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

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

Österreich - The EU Commission may plan to buy CO2 certificates from abroad instead of driving the CO2 reduction in its own country. This is criticized by Global 2000 and 126 other organizations, scientists: inside and corporate representatives: sharply criticized on the inside. In an open letter to the Commission, you ask you to refrain from this procedure. Johannes Wahlmüller von Global 2000 emphasizes that active reduction in greenhouse gases in Europe was necessary by 2040 to meet the climate targets.

The independent scientific advisory committee of the EU for climate change (ESABCC) recommends reducing 90-95 % of its own greenhouse gases within the EU by 2040. However, the previous experience with the CO2 certificate trade makes many critical voices loud. Wahlmüller warns of financial waste when internationally bought CO2 certificates are recognized and criticizes the previous balance of CO2 trade as catastrophic. According to a meta study that was published in the journal Nature in 2024, only 16 % of the CO2 certificates issued actually lead to a reduction in emissions.

criticism of the CO2 certificate trade

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

The new EU climate protection law will in future count overall emissions instead of the emissions of individual sectors. Companies have to buy pollution rights if they exceed their emission 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 goals for renewable energies

In order to achieve the climate goals, the EU also plans to develop clean energy sources as an alternative to fossil fuels. Over 20 % of the energy used in the EU already come from renewable sources. As part of the Green Deal, the EU is aiming to increase the proportion of renewable energy in final energy consumption to 42.5 % by 2030, with individual Member States even targeting 45 %.

MPs of the EU Parliament have also campaigned for faster approval of power plants that are operated with renewable energies and check the promotion of renewable hydrogen and offshore energy sources. EU financing for natural gas infrastructure projects is also gradually discontinued to redirect funds into green hydrogen and offshore energy infrastructures.

Wahlmüller appeals to the Austrian federal government to campaign for real climate protection and to obtain position against the CO2 certificate trade. The future of European climate policy is at stake. The challenges are diverse, but the solutions need to be tackled in order to really achieve the climate goals.

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