BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Parliament will debate on Tuesday eight legislative proposals for climate action aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade.
The proposed measures must materialize the ambitions of the European Union (EU), the world’s third largest economy, in terms of climate action and in particular its objective of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. compared to 1990 levels.
All these proposals are subject to numerous amendments and their outcome is uncertain, especially for the most ambitious objectives.
One of the proposals aims to cut emissions from sectors covered by the CO2 emissions trading scheme by 61% by 2030, and would be the biggest overhaul of the scheme since its launch in 2005.
Some MPs will try to raise this target to 67%. MEP Peter Liese, rapporteur on carbon market reform, said he was “optimistic” that a compromise for a 63% emissions cut would win majority support.
The German Christian Democrat also predicted a “controversial vote” on the EU’s plan to introduce, for the first time in the world, a new carbon tax on imports like steel and cement.
The amendments, put to the vote on Wednesday, also include phasing out the free carbon allowances currently enjoyed by these industries by 2030, 2032 or 2035, an issue that strongly divides MEPs.
The EU also plans to cut CO2 emissions from new cars by 100% by 2035, which would amount to banning the sale of new combustion engine cars in the bloc. Some amendments reduce this reduction to 90% in 2035.
(Reporting Kate Abnett; French version Diana Mandiá, editing by Kate Entringer)
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