The European Parliament has today adopted a report on EU climate change policy to 2050, endorsing the European Commission’s ‘Low Carbon Roadmap’, which calls on the EU to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40% by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 80% by 2050.  The report also includes a call to set aside EU emissions permits [1], with a view to tackling problems with the EU’s emissions trade scheme.

After the vote, Green MEP for London, Jean Lambert, said: “The European Parliament has today endorsed the Low Carbon Roadmap, setting out the future direction for EU climate policy, with its emissions trajectory and milestones for emissions reductions to 2050.  With this vote, the Parliament has shown that EU climate change is not at standstill.

“Whilst MEPs have shown willing to endorse broad long-term commitments, it is regrettable that centre-right MEPs are not willing to commit to the necessary concrete measures to address the current problems with the EU’s 2020 climate strategy.  It is clear that the current 20 per cent emissions target is obsolete; it is holding Europe back by undermining the EU emissions trading scheme and acting as a barrier to investment in green technologies.

“Endorsing the emissions trajectory in the Roadmap means recognising the need for more ambitious emission reductions by 2020, but the Greens/EFA regret that the EP was not willing to explicitly call for the EU to step up to a 30% reductions target.

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Notes to Editor

1. The report, as adopted, included a call for EU emissions allowances to be set aside with a view to tackling the over-supply of emission permits that is depressing the carbon price.