"An ambitious proposal for a new climate target".

It is in these complimentary terms that the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, welcomed the agreement reached on Friday 11 December by the 27 member countries to reduce the continent's greenhouse gas emissions. 

On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, Europeans have given the green light to a net reduction in their emissions of "at least 55%" by 2030 from the 1990 level, against - 40 % previously, in order to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050.  

Under the Paris Agreement, the EU will "update" the legally binding target it must submit to the United Nations by the end of the year.

MEPs and Member States will have to integrate the new target into European legislation. 

FR NW PKG MOTION DESIGN ACCORD DE PARIS

01:18

Guarantees for Poland 

Poland, heavily dependent on coal, worried about the consequences for its economy and demanded guarantees on future financial aid to unlock the agreement. 

The final conclusions adopt formulations capable of reassuring Warsaw: "The objective will be achieved collectively by the EU […]. States participate in the effort by taking account of equity and solidarity, without leaving any between them back ". 

Poland was also alarmed not to receive its fair share of future revenues generated by the revision of the European carbon market: possible "imbalances […] will be examined in future legislation", the text says.

Specific funding, such as the just transition fund, will be devoted to energy transition.  

"We are very far from what we should" 

The figure of 55%, below the objective demanded by the European Parliament (- 60%), is considered insufficient by environmental experts and NGOs. 

THE FACT OF THE DAY

08:48

"The leaders can congratulate each other, but we are very far from what it takes for the climate […]. If this figure really means anything, we must cut the investments already programmed in fossil fuels", comments Colin Roche, coordinator for Friends of the Earth Europe. 

A reduction of at least 65% would be necessary to respect the Paris Agreement, according to the latest scientific data, remind the organizations WWF and Greenpeace, as well as the coordination Climate Action Network (CAN). 

The Climate Action Network denounces a "trompe-l'oeil ambition": the 55% reduction is "net", that is to say it includes natural "carbon sinks", such as forests and soils, in the calculation of absorbed emissions. 

This would mean a reduction of only 50% to 52% of "real" emissions from polluting sectors (energy, transport, agriculture, etc.) by focusing on forests to ensure the rest of the reduction. 

Concern over fossil gas 

The Agreement of the Twenty-Seven "respects the right of Member States to choose the energy mix that suits them and the most appropriate technologies, […] including transitional technologies such as gas", according to the text of the European Council. 

The target of - 55% "represents only a small improvement compared to the emission reductions already expected. Without additional measures, it will allow oil and gas groups to continue their activities", deplores Sebastian Mang, from Greenpeace. 

The "transition technologies" left to the choice of States are a "dangerous formulation [which] opens the door to green financing for gas or nuclear", estimates the NGO.  

"By defending nuclear interests, France took […] the risk of sowing division. This unacceptable posture supported by Poland and the Czech Republic has opened Pandora's box to all false solutions, such as fossil gas which sees itself recognized a role in the transition ", at the risk of making the climate objectives" completely unattainable ", abounds in the Climate Action Network.  

The general opinion is that the climate crisis could, however, force the hand of the Twenty-Seven: "Given the deep existential threat we are facing, European leaders will have to go beyond the objective set", wants believe Wendel Trio, director of CAN Europe. 

With AFP

The summary of the week

France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 application

google-play-badge_FR