Pollution – Photo Pexels
(BRUSSELS) – The EU Council and Parliament reached provisional political agreement Wednesday on stricter regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in member states including less flexibility and more transparency.
With the UN COP27 climate conference under way in Egypt, Parliament and Council negotiators agreed a revision of the ‘effort sharing regulation’ (ESR), which sets binding annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions for EU member states and currently regulates roughly 60% of EU emissions.
Negotiators agreed to increase the mandatory GHG reduction 2030-target at EU level from 30% to 40% compared to 2005-levels. For the first time, all EU countries must now reduce GHG emissions with targets ranging between 10-50%. The targets for each member state are based on GDP per capita and cost-effectiveness.
To reach these more ambitious national reduction targets, each member state will have to ensure every year that they do not exceed their annual GHG emission allocation. These are defined by a linear trajectory ending in 2030 and starting:
- for 2021-2022, on the average of a member states GHG emissions in 2016, 2017 and 2018;
- for 2023-2025, on the annual GHG emission allocation for that member state in 2022;
- for 2026-2030, on the annual allocation for that member state in 2023 plus nine-twelfths based on the average of its GHG emissions during the years 2021, 2022 and 2023.
In the deal, a balance has been struck between the need for flexibility for EU countries to achieve their targets while ensuring a just and socially fair transition for all, and the need to close loopholes so the EU Climate Law is not undermined. This was achieved by restricting the possibilities to transfer, borrow and save emission allowances, as follows:
- Transferring allowances: the possibility for member states to trade allowances with other member states will be limited to 10% of the allowances for 2021-2025. For 2026-2030 the maximum is 15%. Any proceeds from such trading should be allocated to climate action.
- Borrowing allowances: member states can in 2021-2025 borrow maximum 7.5% of the allowances from the following year to be used in years where emissions are higher than the annual limit. For 2026-2030 the maximum is 5%.
- Banking allowances: in years where emissions are lower, member states will be able to save emissions for the following year. 75% of the annual emission allocation in 2021 can be saved and used later. For 2022-2029 the figure would be 25%.
- Reserve: member states will no longer be able to receive additional allowances through the so-called additional reserve as it will be abolished.
Finally, in order to be able to hold member states more accountable, the Commission will make information public on national actions in an easily accessible form, as requested by Parliament.
“These sectors, directly linked to our everyday lives, generate about 60% of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Czech environment minister Marian Jurecka, for the EU presidency, who added that he was glad the EU managed to reach agreement in time for COP 27: “This will allow the EU to show to the world that it seriously intends to reduce emissions in line with its commitments under the Paris Agreement of keeping global warming within safe levels. It is our responsibility to preserve our planet for all future generations.”
Further information, European Parliament
