The Council today adopted its position at first reading on the European Climate Law, thus ending the adoption procedure and setting in legislation the objective of a climate-neutral EU by 2050. It is the next step to the political agreement reached with the European Parliament on 21 April and to parliament’s adoption of its position at first reading on 24 June.
“I very much welcome the conclusion of this latest phase of the adoption of the EU’s first climate law, which sets out in legislation the goal of climate neutrality by 2050. One of the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency has been to reach an agreement on the European Climate Law, and I am glad that we have reached the finish line.” João Pedro Matos Fernandes, Minister of Environment and Climate Action
In addition to the climate neutrality target and the ideal target for the Union to achieve negative emissions from 2050, the European Climate Law sets a binding target for the Union to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions (emissions after removals) by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. In order to ensure that sufficient measures are taken to reduce and avoid emissions by 2030, the Climate Law introduces a limit of 225 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent to the contribution of removals to that target. The Union will also seek to achieve a higher net carbon sink volume by 2030.
The Commission will also propose an intermediate climate target for 2040, if applicable, no later than six months after the first global stocktaking under the Paris Agreement. At the same time, it shall present an indicative Union budget for greenhouse gas emissions for the period 2030-2050, together with its underlying methodology. The budget is defined as the total indicative volume of net greenhouse gas emissions (expressed in carbon dioxide equivalent and with separate information on emissions and removals) that are expected to be generated in that period without jeopardising the Union’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.
The European Climate Law establishes a European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change. This council will provide independent scientific advice and report on EU action, climate targets, indicative greenhouse gas budgets and consistency with European climate legislation and the EU’s international commitments under the Paris Agreement.
The Commission will work with sectors of the economy that choose to develop indicative voluntary roadmaps to achieve the Union’s climate neutrality target by 2050. In addition to overseeing the development of such roadmaps, the Commission will facilitate dialogue at EU level and the exchange of best practices between stakeholders.
Context and next steps
The European Council, in its conclusions of 12 December 2019, endorsed the objective of achieving a climate-neutral EU by 2050, in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, while recognising the need to put in place an enabling framework that benefits all Member States and covers the instruments, appropriate incentives, support measures and investments to ensure a cost-efficient, fair, as well as socially balanced and equitable transition, taking into account different national circumstances in terms of starting points.
On 4 March 2020, the European Commission adopted its proposed European Climate Law as an important component of the European Green Deal. On 17 September 2020, the Commission adopted a proposal amending its initial proposal to include a revised EU emission reduction target of at least 55% by 2030. The Commission also published a Communication on the 2030 Climate Target Plan, accompanied by a comprehensive impact assessment.
In its conclusions of 10-11 December 2020, the European Council endorsed a binding EU target for a net domestic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 of at least 55% compared to 1990 values.
On 17 December 2020, the Council adopted its general approach on the proposal for the European Climate Law, after which the Council and Parliament launched a series of trilogues with a view to reaching agreement on the final text.
The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on the proposal on 21 April 2021.
Now that the European Parliament and the Council have adopted the European Climate Law, it will be signed and published in the Official Journal before its entry into force.
