Europe pushes to slash emissions within a decade

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3 年前

Temperatures are approaching 50 degrees in parts of Spain.

But as extreme heat events grow more common, the EU is to unveil a raft of ambitious plans designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

They would put the bloc on track to meet its 2030 goal of reducing planet-warming emissions by 55% from 1990 levels.

The "Fit for 55" package, set to be released on Wednesday (July 14), will face months of negotiations between the 27 EU countries and the European Parliament.

The European Commission will propose 12 policies targeting energy, industry, transport and heating buildings.

Its draft measures aim to encourage companies and consumers to choose greener options over polluting ones.

By making climate policies more visible to EU citizens than ever before, "Fit for 55" is also set to test public support for ambitious climate action.

But the bloc is prepared for industry pushback.

Europe's steel and cement sectors are already fighting plans to end free CO2 permits, and some of the sectors due to be covered by a carbon border tariff say they do not want to be included.

Other major economies, including top emitters China and the US, have committed to achieving net zero emissions, which scientists say the world must reach by 2050 to avoid catastrophic climate change.