EU sets new climate target – faces sharp criticism

Brussels/Stockholm – In the midst of an ongoing heatwave in Europe, the EU Commission is presenting a new formal climate goal. According to the proposal, greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced by around 90 percent by 2040 in order to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

“We are very ambitious but at the same time pragmatic and flexible,” says climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra at a press conference in Brussels.

Some flexibility is allowed when it comes to calculating emissions. Among other things, parts of the EU countries’ climate efforts can take place in countries outside the union. Such a solution, according to critics, significantly weakens the climate goal.

Sweden’s EU Minister Jessica Rosencrantz believes that the proposal for flexibility “is fundamentally good.” Swedish Climate Minister Romina Pourmokhtari tells TT that the country’s government was early in supporting the Commission’s proposal.

”We will now need to analyze the climate law in its entirety before we take a final position,” she states.

Swedish MEP Emma Wiesner (Center Party) calls the proposal “a false climate goal and a great betrayal,” and refers to the flexibilities as “nothing but loopholes.” Heléne Fritzon (Social Democrats) joins in the criticism and welcomes a debate on the issue in the EU Parliament.

(July 2)