DThe European Union aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent within the next decade compared to 1990. This puts the EU on a safe path towards its goal of climate neutrality in 2050, according to a draft strategy paper from the Commission on climate policy after 2030. The draft, which in some places still contains XXX instead of concrete numbers, is available to the FAZ before. The commission wants to officially present this next week. So far, the EU has decided to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030. The EU would have to noticeably increase its efforts by 2040.
The recommendation is based on the analysis of three scenarios: a reduction of 80 percent, one of 85 to 90 percent and one of 90 to 95 percent. The latter is the only goal with which the EU can keep its commitments from the Paris Climate Protocol, according to the paper. This is intended to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees compared to the pre-industrial era. The longer climate protection is delayed, the greater the human and economic costs of climate change, it goes on to say.
Criticism comes from the European Parliament
A prerequisite for a reduction of 90 to 95 percent is the rapid spread of new technology such as green hydrogen and the separation, storage and use of CO2 between 2031 and 2040, especially in industry, emphasizes the Commission. The goal has the positive side effect that the EU will further reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and thus become less vulnerable to price shocks. This will also free up money that can flow into expanding infrastructure, innovations, training and other areas that are important for the EU's competitiveness.
Compared to the second scenario, a reduction of 85 to 90 percent, it requires slightly higher investments and more raw materials. However, this will be offset by savings in the decade 2041 to 2050. This also gives the EU advantages in the international competition for green technology of the future. The draft still leaves open how high the actual costs will be. He puts the savings from lower imports of fossil fuels at 2.8 trillion euros between 2031 and 2050 for the 90 percent target.
In order to achieve the 90 percent target, i.e. the lower limit of the scenario preferred by the Commission, the EU should completely decarbonize the electricity supply by 2045, if possible. The share of electricity in total energy consumption will double from 25 to 50 percent by 2040. 90 percent of this will come from renewable sources, “supplemented by nuclear power,” it says. The remaining 10 percent would have to be achieved not least through the separation and storage of CO2 (CCS) can be achieved. Overall, capacities are to be significantly expanded so that by 2040 300 million tons of CO2 will be produced annually2 could be split off. The Commission places particular emphasis on reducing emissions in the transport and agricultural sectors.
Criticism comes from the European Parliament. “The proposal is at the lower limit of what is scientifically necessary,” said MP Michael Bloss. Instead of relying entirely on cheap energy from sun and wind, the commission is proposing gas and coal-fired power plants that are equipped with “zombie CO.”2-Separation”.
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