EU climate law does not represent emergency action

The European Commission today publishes a new climate law that Friends of the Earth Europe says does not represent emergency action for the climate crisis.

Climate law lacks new target for 2030

Heralded as a cornerstone of the European Green Deal, the proposal will set into law the well-known goal of net ‘climate neutrality’ by 2050 (up from 80-95% currently). But the Commission fails to outline an improved target for emissions cuts in 2030 – meaning the EU risks going empty handed to crunch UN climate talks in Glasgow at the end of the year.

Molly Walsh, climate justice campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe said:

“A target 30 years in the future does not represent emergency climate action – our house is on fire and Europe is still twiddling its thumbs. We need to end the fossil fuel age in years, not decades, to keep the planet safe.”

Real zero not ‘net’ zero

Friends of the Earth Europe also criticised the nature of the ‘climate neutrality’ goal. The proposed law relies heavily on removal of CO2 from the atmosphere, betting on carbon sinks, offsets and unproven technologies.

Molly Walsh said:

“Europe is betting on unproven technologies and carbon sinks to suck up carbon we belched into the atmosphere, when we should be ending fossil fuels. Europe must do our fair share to keep global heating below 1.5 degrees – meaning real zero carbon emissions and fast.”

Greta Thunberg this morning addresses the college of EU Commissioners in Brussels. In a letter to EU leaders she and 33 other young activists slam the climate law as a ‘surrender’ and demand targets for 2030 and 2020.

On Friday (6 March), Greta Thunberg and other inspiring youth climate strikers take to the streets in Brussels to call for climate justice – with leaders’ delays risking alienating young people.