EU making decarbonization a legal obligation.
time for #euexit?
In case you were not aware reducing EU emissions is becoming law. The servitude of poverty. This planned de-growth is positively draconian in terms of the standard of living of Europeans. Very much like Canada’s rule under Singh-Trudeau twins. You will have to view the stack on line.
Research planned de-growth and the Club of Rome lead me here. Who knew they do not like GDP anymore. No: they do not like GDP anymore.
The below information was taken direct from the EU’s site.
Fit for 55
The European climate law makes reaching the EU’s climate goal of reducing EU emissions by at least 55% by 2030 a legal obligation.
EU countries are working on new legislation to achieve this goal and make the EU climate-neutral by 2050.
On this page:
What is the Fit for 55 package?
The Fit for 55 package is a set of proposals to revise and update EU legislation and to put in place new initiatives with the aim of ensuring that EU policies are into line with the climate goals agreed by the Council and the European Parliament.
Why 'Fit for 55'?
Fit for 55 refers to the EU’s target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. The proposed package aims to bring EU legislation in line with the 2030 goal.
The package of proposals aims at providing a coherent and balanced framework for reaching the EU's climate objectives, which:
ensures a just and socially fair transition
maintains and strengthens innovation and competitiveness of EU industry while ensuring a level playing field vis-à-vis third country economic operators
underpins the EU's position as leading the way in the global fight against climate change
The Council as co-legislator
The proposals of the Fit for 55 package were first presented and discussed at technical level within the Council's working parties responsible for the policy area concerned.
Later these were discussed by EU member states’ ambassadors in Coreper to prepare the ground for agreements among the 27 member states. EU ministers, in various Council configurations, exchanged views on the proposals to reach agreement on a common position on each proposed act.
In the ordinary legislative procedure, the Council then engages with the European Parliament in negotiations to find a common agreement in view of the final adoption of the legislative acts.
What is included in the Fit for 55 package?
Text version
EU emissions trading system
The EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) is a carbon market based on a system of cap-and-trade of emission allowances for energy-intensive industries and the power generation sector. It is the EU's main tool in addressing emissions reductions. Since its introduction in 2005, the EU's emissions have decreased by 41%.
The Fit for 55 package aimed to reform the EU ETS by making it more ambitious. New provisions include:
extension to emissions from maritime transport
faster reduction of emissions allowances in the system and gradual phasing-out of free allowances for some sectors
implementation of the global carbon offsetting and reduction scheme for international aviation (CORSIA) through the EU ETS
increase of funding for the modernisation fund and the innovation fund
revision of the market stability reserve
In addition, a new self-standing emissions trading system is created for buildings, road transport and fuels for additional sectors.
The Environment Council adopted a general approach on the revision of the EU ETS in June 2022. In December 2022, the Council reached a provisional deal with the European Parliament. This includes an increase in the overall ambition of emissions reductions by 2030 in the sectors covered by the EU ETS to 62%, compared to the 61% target proposed by the Commission.
In December 2022, the Council and the European Parliament reached also a provisional political agreement on the revision of the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) rules applying to the aviation sector. The agreement ensures that aviation contributes to the EU's emission reduction objectives under the Paris Agreement.
The Council adopted a decision on the market stability reserve, part of the EU ETS, in March 2023. It formally adopted the revision of the EU ETS in April 2023.
In December 2022 the Council adopted a decision on the notification of CORSIA offsetting requirements. CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) is a global scheme for offsetting CO2 emissions from international aviation, in which EU member states participate.
Social climate fund
The social climate fund proposal aims to address the social and distributional impact of the new emissions trading system for buildings and road transport.
Based on social climate plans to be developed by the member states, the fund aims to provide support measures and investments for the benefit of vulnerable:
households
micro-enterprises
transport users
The fund can also cover temporary direct income support. The fund will be part of the EU budget and be fed by external assigned revenues up to a maximum amount of €65 billion.
EU environment ministers agreed on the Council's negotiating position for the creation of the social climate fund in June 2022. In December 2022, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on the proposal for the fund. The new rules were adopted by the Council in April 2023.
Carbon border adjustment mechanism
The carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) aims to ensure – in full compliance with international trade rules – that the emissions reduction efforts of the EU are not offset by increasing emissions outside its borders through the relocation of production to non-EU countries (where policies applied to fight climate change are less ambitious than those of the EU) or through increased imports of carbon-intensive products.
CBAM targets imports of products in carbon-intensive industries. It is designed to function in parallel with the EU’s emissions trading system (EU ETS) as well as to mirror and complement its functioning on imported goods. It will gradually replace the existing EU mechanisms to address the risk of carbon leakage, in particular the free allocation of EU ETS allowances.
On 15 March 2022, the Council reached agreement on the text. In December 2022, negotiators of the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on CBAM.
The Council formally adopted the new rules in April 2023.
Member states’ emissions reduction targets
The effort sharing regulation, last amended in 2018, sets binding annual greenhouse gas emissions targets for member states in sectors that are not covered by the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) or the regulation on land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF). These sectors include:
road and domestic maritime transport
buildings
agriculture
waste
small industries
The new rules, as part of the Fit for 55 package, will increase the EU-level greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2030 from 29% to 40%, compared with 2005, in the sectors concerned. They will also update the national targets accordingly.
EU environment ministers agreed on a Council negotiating position on the revised rules on 29 June 2022. In November 2022, the Council reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament. The regulation was adopted by the Council in March 2023.
Emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry
The land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) regulation sets a binding commitment for the EU to reduce emissions and increase removals in the land use and forestry sectors. With the Fit for 55 package, the provisions are made more ambitious.
The new rules set an increased EU-level target of at least 310 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent net removals of greenhouse gases for 2030. Binding national targets are defined for each member state.
The Environment Council adopted a general approach on the revised LULUCF regulation on 29 June 2022. A provisional agreement was reached with the European Parliament in November 2022. The regulation was adopted by the Council in March 2023.
CO2 emission standards for cars and vans
Cars and vans account for 15% of the total EU emissions of carbon dioxide. The EU, as part of the 55 package, has adopted new rules regulating the CO2 emissions from these vehicles.
The regulation introduces progressive EU-wide emissions reduction targets for cars and vans for 2030 and beyond, including a 100% reduction target for 2035 for new cars and vans.
The Council adopted its general approach on the proposal in June 2022. An agreement with the European Parliament was reached in October 2022. The regulation was adopted by the Council in March 2023.
Reducing methane emissions in the energy sector
The Commission presented the proposal for new EU rules on methane emissions reduction in the energy sector in December 2021, as part of the Fit for 55 package. The proposal aims to track and reduce methane emissions in the energy sector. The text is the first of its kind and is a crucial contribution to climate action, as methane is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide.
The proposal follows from the strategic vision set out in the EU Methane Strategy in 2020. At the COP26 UN Climate Conference in 2021, the EU launched the Global Methane Pledge in partnership with the United States, whereby over 100 countries committed to reducing their methane emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels.
In December 2022, the Council reached agreement (‘general approach') on this proposal.
Sustainable aviation fuels
Sustainable aviation fuels (advanced biofuels and electrofuels) have the potential to significantly reduce aircraft emissions. However, this potential is largely untapped as such fuels represent only 0.05% of total fuel consumption in the aviation sector.
The ReFuelEU Aviation proposal aims to reduce the aviation sector’s environmental footprint and enable it to help the EU achieve its climate targets.
The Council agreed on a general approach on the proposal in June 2022. A provisional agreement was reached with the European Parliament in April 2023. The Council adopted the new regulation in October 2023.
Decarbonised fuels in shipping
Despite progress in recent years, the maritime sector still relies almost entirely on fossil fuels and constitutes a significant source of greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutant emissions. The goal of the FuelEU maritime initiative is to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of the energy used on-board of ships by up to 80% by 2050. The new rules promote the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in shipping.
The Council agreed on a general approach on the proposal in June 2022. In March 2023, the Council and the Parliament reached a provisional deal.
The Council adopted the new rules in July 2023, completing the legislative procedure.
Alternative fuels infrastructure
The main objective of the regulation on alternative fuels infrastructure (AFIR) is to ensure that citizens and businesses have access to a sufficient infrastructure network for recharging or refuelling road vehicles and ships with alternative fuels.
The new rules will enable the transport sector to significantly reduce its carbon footprint. They set a number of targets for 2025 or 2030 including:
recharging stations for cars and vans to be installed every 60 km
hydrogen refuelling stations serving both cars and lorries to be deployed from 2030 onwards in all urban nodes
users of electric or hydrogen-fuelled vehicles to be able to pay easily at recharging or refuelling points
In June 2022, the Council agreed a common position (general approach) on the Commission’s proposal for this regulation. The Council and the Parliament reached a provisional deal in March 2023.
The Council adopted the new rules in July 2023.
Renewable energy
The Fit for 55 package includes a proposal for a revision of the renewable energy directive. The proposal is to increase the current EU-level target of at least 32% of renewable energy sources in the overall energy mix to at least 40% by 2030.
It also proposes the introduction or enhancement of sectorial sub-targets and measures across sectors, with a special focus on sectors where progress with integrating renewables has been slower to date, in particular in the fields of transport, buildings and industry.
EU energy ministers agreed their joint position on the proposal for a revised EU renewable energy directive on 27 June 2022. In March 2023, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on the revised directive. The Council adopted the new rules in October 2023.
Energy efficiency
The revised EU energy efficiency directive will reduce final energy consumption at EU level by 11.7% in 2030, compared to projections made in 2020.
The new rules will accelerate energy efficiency efforts by member states by increasing annual energy savings obligations and decreasing the energy consumption of public sector buildings.
On 27 June 2022, the Council adopted its 'general approach' on the proposed new rules. In March 2023, the Council presidency and the European Parliament negotiators reached a provisional political agreement on the revision of the directive.
The Council adopted the new directive in July 2023. The rules will become EU law after publication in the EU's official journal.
Council adopts energy efficiency directive (press release, 25 July 2023)
Council and Parliament strike deal on energy efficiency directive (press release, 10 March 2023)
Energy performance of buildings
Buildings account for 40% of energy consumed and 36% of energy-related direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. EU countries are working on the revision of the energy performance of buildings directive to make buildings in the EU more energy efficient by 2030 and beyond.
The main objectives of the new rules are:
all new buildings should be zero-emission buildings by 2030
existing buildings should be transformed into zero-emission buildings by 2050
In October 2022, the EU member states, meeting within the Council, agreed a common position ('general approach’) on the proposal.
Hydrogen and decarbonised gas market package
The hydrogen and decarbonised gas market package proposes revised and new rules to lower the carbon footprint of the gas market. The goal is to shift from natural gas to renewable and low-carbon gases and boost their uptake in the EU by 2030 and beyond.
The package consists of a regulation and a directive. The two proposals set common internal market rules for renewable and natural gases and hydrogen. They aim at creating a regulatory framework for dedicated hydrogen infrastructure and markets and integrated network planning. They also set rules for consumers protection and strengthen security of supply.
The Council set its position for negotiations (general approach) with the European Parliament on the two proposals in March 2023.
Energy taxation
The proposal for a revision of the Council directive on the taxation of energy products and electricity aims to:
align the taxation of energy products and electricity with the EU's energy, environment and climate policies
preserve and improve the EU internal market by updating the scope of energy products and the structure of rates and by rationalising the use of tax exemptions and reductions by member states
preserve the capacity to generate revenues for the budgets of the member states
The proposal is currently under discussion within the Council. In December 2022, EU finance ministers held a policy debate on the revision of the energy taxation directive.
My video hunger games ends in with a GLOBAL CARBON TAX. THIS WAS PLOTTED OUT NOVEMBER 2015 by NGOs etc.
And this is going to happen how with the flood of illegal aliens coming into the EU?
These people are absolutely delusional. Muslims love meat, except pork; I see Omar Al Musafa showing a big middle finger to these clueless deebs just before separating their heads from their necks.
I am glad I live in the USA