“Fit for 55” package: How the EU climate targets are to be achieved

It is a done deal that the EU wants to stop climate change. The EU Commission has now presented appropriate measures – the prelude to a potentially long and controversial debate.

The podium was full and there weren’t enough standing desks for everyone present: no less than five EU Commissioners appeared with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her deputy, Frans Timmermans, to present the “Fit for 55” package of measures. After all, the proposals concern different areas of the way of life and economy of 450 million people in Europe.

The EU Commission wants to achieve the climate targets for 2030 with an extensive package of requirements. By then, emissions of climate-damaging gases are to be reduced by 55 percent compared to 1990. In the words of Commissioner von der Leyen, Europe is the first continent to present a comprehensive architecture for achieving its climate goals: “We have the goal, now we are showing the map for the way there. ”

Not a great future for combustion engines

The commission package makes the climate goals, which often seem abstract, concrete – also and especially for the auto industry. According to the will of the commission, the CO2 emissions of new cars should fall 55 percent below the current level by 2030. Five years later, new cars have to be completely emission-free. According to the current state of technology, only pure electric cars can do this – so it is unlikely that there will be a great future for conventional gasoline or diesel vehicles.

The head of the commission refers to the manufacturers. They would have given the correct answers themselves in the past few weeks: “About a dozen of the major car manufacturers in Germany and Europe have announced that they will convert their fleets to exclusively emission-free vehicles between 2028 and 2035. And we have oriented ourselves towards these ambitious goals . ”

Around a fifth of EU-wide emissions currently come from traffic, and according to von der Leyen, the trend is increasing recently. In order to get more electric cars on Europe’s roads, the Commission is setting guidelines for the member states: charging stations should be set up every 60 kilometers on major roads.

Emissions trading is expanded

The trade in pollution rights for certain industrial companies covers around 40 percent of EU emissions. The requirements are to be tightened: The Commission wants to reduce the number of certificates more quickly and issue fewer free allocations. Shipping traffic must also acquire emission rights from 2023. In addition, another trade in emissions credits is planned for the areas of transport and buildings from 2026. That could make fuel and heating oil more expensive.

Part of the income from this second emissions trading scheme is to flow into a fund with a total volume of 70 billion euros, from which low-income families will be supported. They in particular are affected by rising prices for fuel or heating oil because they have to spend a higher proportion of their income on them. That is why there is resistance from some EU governments. The deputy head of the EU Commission, Frans Timmermans, was ready to talk about the details, but not with a view to the overall goal:

Parts of the package can be discussed, but not the target: minus 55 percent emissions, because that’s the law. So if you don’t agree, you should point out alternatives that have the same effect.

EU industry should be protected

The Commission proposes to remove the aviation fuel tax exemption. Aircraft and ships should increasingly add more climate-friendly fuels. A border adjustment mechanism is intended to protect European industry from foreign competition with lower climate standards. Non-European importers of steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizers or electricity would then also have to buy CO2 certificates – depending on how harmful their products are to the climate.

The package of a total of twelve legislative proposals is now being discussed among the 27 member states and in the EU Parliament. It can take months. In the end, both sides have to agree. There is already criticism of individual points. Commission officials warned against attempting to untie the package – that could endanger the EU climate target. Commissioner von der Leyen emphasized: “Some will say we should be slower, do less – but with a view to climate change doing less or nothing literally means changing everything.”

Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze welcomed the package from Brussels, industry associations and airlines are warning of additional burdens, while environmental organizations do not go far enough with the proposals.