10 Jul (NucNet): The European Commission is aiming to publish proposals for an EU strategy for long-term EU greenhouse gas emissions reductions by November 2018, climate action and energy commissioner Arias Cañete said in a speech in Brussels today.
Mr Cañete said the proposals, requested by EU leaders in March 2018, will not be “a mere exercise of trajectory setting to reduce emissions”. He said it has to reflect a vision of a greenhouse-gas-neutral European economy and has to make the most of opportunities in terms of facilitating investment, and of growth and jobs.
Mr Cañete said the proposals will send a strong signal to the EU’s partners during COP24, to be held in Katowice, Poland, from 3 to 14 December 2018. They will show that the EU is planning “for the long term in a robust way”, he said.
“Coming forward in November with the Commission proposal will also allow us to have a broad and thorough discussion next year so that we can submit a long-term strategy to the UNFCCC [United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change], at the latest in early 2020, as required under the Paris Agreement,” Mr Cañete said.
He said if the EU is to meet its objectives on global warming by the middle of the century, it cannot wait until 2030 or 2040 to define its policies.Mr Cañete confirmed that the EU has reached political agreement on the key elements related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions – namely reinforcing energy efficiency, renewable energy and the governance of climate and energy policies.
“The new governance rules include a provision also for member states to prepare and report to the Commission their national long-term strategies with a perspective of at least 30 years,” he said.
