EU under pressure: GLOBAL 2000 demands real CO2 reduction instead of certificates!

EU under pressure: GLOBAL 2000 demands real CO2 reduction instead of certificates!

The EU Commission may plan to purchase CO2 certificates from abroad instead of pushing forward CO2 reductions at home. This is sharply criticized by GLOBAL 2000 and 126 other organizations, scientists and company representatives. In an open letter to the Commission, they demand that this approach be refrained from. Johannes Wahlmüller from GLOBAL 2000 emphasizes that an active reduction of greenhouse gases in Europe is necessary by 2040 in order to meet the climate goals.

The EU's Independent Scientific Advisory Panel on Climate Change (ESABCC) recommends that the EU eliminate 90-95% of its own greenhouse gases by 2040. However, previous experiences with CO2 certificate trading have raised many critical voices. Wahlmüller warns of financial waste if internationally purchased CO2 certificates are recognized and criticizes the current record of CO2 trading as catastrophic. According to a meta-study published in the journal Nature in 2024, only 16% of the CO2 certificates issued actually lead to a reduction in emissions.

Criticism of CO2 certificate trading

The discussion about CO2 certificate trading not only describes its goals, but also addresses the challenges associated with it. Emissions trading, which has led to a CO2 reduction of almost 30% in Germany since its introduction in 2004, is viewed as a central instrument of EU climate policy. Nevertheless, there is criticism of the fluctuating prices of the certificates and the ineffectiveness in certain sectors such as agriculture.

The new EU climate protection law will in future count total emissions instead of the emissions from individual sectors. Companies have to buy pollution rights if they exceed their emissions limits, which can be expensive. At the same time, there is hope that the price of certificates will motivate companies to use climate-friendly technologies.

EU renewable energy targets

To achieve climate goals, the EU also plans to develop clean energy sources as an alternative to fossil fuels. Over 20% of the energy consumed in the EU already comes from renewable sources. As part of the Green Deal, the EU aims to increase the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption to 42.5% by 2030, with individual member states even targeting 45%.

Members of the EU Parliament have also pushed for faster approval of power plants powered by renewable energy and are examining the promotion of renewable hydrogen and offshore energy sources. EU funding for natural gas infrastructure projects will also be phased out in order to redirect funds into green hydrogen and offshore energy infrastructure.

Wahlmüller calls on the Austrian federal government to campaign for real climate protection and to take a position against the CO2 certificate trading. The future of European climate policy is at stake. The challenges are diverse, but the solutions must be addressed urgently in order to truly achieve the set climate goals.

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