EU sets emissions reduction targets for 2030

The European Commission (EC) has published proposed greenhouse gas reduction targets for member states by 2030, compared with 2005 levels. Countries with higher GDP per capita have been set tougher targets than less developed countries, with the UK set an emissions reduction target of -37%.

 

The proposals follow on from the European’s Council newly adopted energy and climate policy framework which set binding targets of 40 per cent GHG emissions reductions by 2030 compared with 1990 levels. This reduction will be achieved through a 43 per cent reduction from sectors covered by the European emissions trading scheme (ETS) and a 30 percent reduction from those outside the scheme.

 

Each country has been given its own individual target for 2030 based on 2005 levels, with richer countries such as Luxembourg, Austria and Germany requested to bring down emissions by up to 40% in less than 14 years. Eastern and Southern European states have been set smaller targets as a reflection on the health of their economies, while Bulgaria has been set the challenge of maintaining its 2005 emissions levels.

 

There has been some criticism of the targets as “Greece, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, Portugal and Romania [are] already emitting less than their 2030 allocation in 2014” according to Climate Change News.

 

The table below sets out the proposed emissions reductions from the EC:

 

Country	Proposed Reductions by 2030 from 2005 levels
Austria	-36%
Belgium	-35%
Bulgaria	0%
Croatia	-7%
Cyprus	-24%
Czech Republic	-14%
Denmark	-39%
Estonia	-13%
Finland	-39%
France	-37%
Germany	-38%
Greece	-16%
Hungary	-7%
Ireland	-30%
Italy	-33%
Latvia	-6%
Lithuania	-9%
Luxembourg	-40%
Malta	-19%
Netherlands	-36%
Poland	-7%
Portugal	-17%
Romania	-2%
Slovakia	-12%
Slovenia	-15%
Spain	-26%
Sweden	-40%
United Kingdom	-37%

 

Though it is not clear to what extent the UK’s will continue to be involved in the EU wide energy and climate change framework following the EU referendum, “experts have argued the EU goal for the UK is broadly in line with the target to cut emissions by 57 per cent by 2032 against 1990 levels, which was approved by the British Parliament yesterday with the passage of the Climate Change Act's fifth carbon budget” Business Green reports.

 

A spokeswoman for the newly formed Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy stressed that the EU's existing climate targets still apply to the UK. "Tackling climate change is a priority for the government," she said. "Setting long term targets to reduce our emissions is a fundamental part of building a secure, affordable and clean energy system that our families and businesses can rely on, and that is fit for the 21st century. The existing rules on the EU climate change targets still apply and so we will continue to participate in negotiations to ensure we get the best deal for the UK."

 

Importantly the proposals, which will now be reviewed by the European Council and European Parliament, include the implementation of “EU Commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change”, providing a potentially quick ratification to the international agreement.

 

Download pdf of proposals on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions for EU member states, for the period 2021-2030.