The European Union (EU) has pledged to increase the percentage of emissions they reduce to 57% from their previous target of 55%. This reduction in emissions has been pledged to occur by 2030. The new pledge was announced at COP27 by European Commission’s Climate Chief, Frans Timmermans.
Timmermans claimed that the member states in Europe are ambitious in their policies and actions to reduce their emissions. He has stated that Europe will not be derailed on their journey to lower their carbon emissions, especially whilst facing our current energy crisis.
The EU is also aiming to stick to its pledge, in line with the Paris Agreement, of eliminating all carbon emissions by 2050. Timmermans was reported claiming that the EU is working towards both of these targets and has stated that:
“So don’t let anybody tell you, here or outside,
that the EU is backtracking.”
By the end of the year, the EU promises to have finalised the legislation needed to deliver on their new target. The legislation is currently being negotiated by lawmakers and the countries within the EU.
One of the laws already passed to help the EU to reach this target is the ban of selling new petrol and diesel cars by 2035.
The EU has come under fire due to their increased use of coal and gas which appears to show the EU backtracking on their pledge to cut emissions. At the same time, the EU have also asked poorer, developing countries to lower their own emissions and reduce their use of fossil fuels.
