Members of the European Parliament have voted in favour of a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030, supporting the call of the Environment Committee and going beyond the European Commission’s 55% climate target. The European Parliament will now enter into negotiations with the Council and Commission with a strong position. The European Parliament voted by a large majority in favour of a CO2 budget, setting out how much CO2 EU Member States are allowed to emit and voted for an independent climate council of scientists.
Bas Eickhout, Greens/EFA MEP and Vice Chair of the Environment Committee, comments: “This is a huge success for the climate. The first European Climate Law brings the Paris climate goals closer to a reality. The European Parliament is laying the foundations for climate protection for the next 30 years. Forest fires and melting ice in the Arctic are sounding an enormous ecological alarm, but we can still avert a climate collapse.
“This vote shows that the European Parliament is listening to the science and the Fridays for Future movement. With the European Climate Law we are setting the starting point for limiting global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees. The European Climate Law will give the Green Deal a powerful boost and will be the engine for climate protection, a greener economy and new jobs.
“The German Council Presidency should swiftly bring the Council’s position to the table so that the negotiations can be concluded as soon as possible. The EU must seize the opportunity to be a global leader at the next UN COP climate summit in Glasgow. The European Parliament is ready.”
