With the EU emissions trading companies should be pushed to more climate protection. Now there is a compromise in the EU Parliament. But the laboriously negotiated result is seen by some as almost a betrayal.
After months of discussions, the European Parliament has agreed on proposals for stricter climate protection. Among other things, the free allocation of certificates for CO2 emissions is to be gradually phased out from 2027 and then completely eliminated from 2032.
After Wednesday’s agreement, emissions trading is also to be extended to buildings and traffic – but initially only for commercial use. With emissions trading (ETS), certain industries have to pay for the emission of climate-damaging gases such as CO2.
However, the projects still have to be coordinated with the EU countries. They want to talk about their position next week, only when there is an agreement can the two institutions start negotiations with each other. The proposals for climate protection had already been presented by the EU Commission last summer.
According to researchers, global emissions of climate-damaging greenhouse gases must fall by 45 percent by 2030. There is no other way to achieve the common goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial times.
Goal: global climate protection
Harsh criticism came from the environmental organization WWF, for which the proposals do not go far enough. The parliamentarians would have let the climate and citizens down. Parliament is complicit in undermining the EU’s most powerful tool to get industry to say goodbye to oil, gas and coal. The environmental organization Germanwatch announced that the overall result was too small a step.
MEPs, however, defended the decision. “Those who think they can continue to run old scumbags must feel the pressure to make the necessary changes,” said CDU politician Peter Liese. The compromise is a good balance between protecting the climate and protecting jobs.
The Green MP Michael Bloss spoke of the fact that some adjustment screws had been tightened in climate protection. However, the goal of limiting global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees is not being met. Liese emphasized that with a view to this goal, it is above all important to convince countries around the world of ambitious climate protection goals.
There was a mixed echo from the industry. “By approving the expansion of emissions trading, the EU Parliament has made an important and correct decision,” said Hildegard Müller from the Association of the Automotive Industry. The German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) fears that a transformation of the industry will be hindered instead of being promoted. The Federal Association of the German Aviation Industry was also disappointed.
Relief for citizens through social funds
The agreement was negotiated by Christian and Social Democrats and the Liberals in the European Parliament, but also supported by the Greens. Two weeks ago, a first proposal on the subject failed in Parliament. From the point of view of SPD MP Tiemo Wölken, this would have decisively diluted emissions trading.
Parliament also spoke out in favor of setting up a climate social fund and a kind of CO2 tariff at the EU’s external borders. The aim of the CO2 tariff is to prevent cheaper products that are manufactured abroad, which are more harmful to the climate, from becoming a problem for EU companies.
In addition to the products proposed by the Commission, such as iron, steel, cement and fertiliser, Parliament also wants to extend the levy to plastics, hydrogen and ammonia, according to a communication from Parliament.
The climate social fund is intended to relieve the burden on citizens, since more climate protection is also expected to result in higher costs for consumers. In contrast to the ETS agreement, both the Social Democrats, the Greens and the CDU were satisfied across all factions.
“For the first time in history we will have a fund that specifically counteracts energy and mobility poverty,” said Green politician Katrin Langensiepen. Her CDU colleague Dennis Radtke emphasized: “By 2027, at least 32.78 billion euros will be available for this.” From 2028 there is a possibility that a total volume of 144.4 billion euros could be achieved. In this context, Wölken emphasized that people with low incomes emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases, but are more affected by higher prices on emissions.
Source: Stern
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