EU signs tighter agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The Council and the European Parliament closed an interim political agreement late Tuesday night (8) that set even more stringent targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in its member states.

The document still needs to be formalized by countries, but stipulates that the reduction at European level should be 40% by 2030 compared to 2005 data for sectors not covered by the EU Emissions Quota Change System (ETS), including maritime and road transport, public buildings, agriculture, waste management and small industries.

Together, these sectors account for approximately 60% of the toxic gas emissions in the atmosphere of the European bloc countries combined.

The agreement maintains the increase in national targets assigned to each country, as recommended by the European Commission, but changes the way member states use existing flexibility to achieve their targets.

And, taking into account the uncertainties associated with unanticipated events, the Council and Parliament agreed to update in 2025 the document controlling the linear trajectory of fixed emissions for each Member State – this could result in rates falling or increasing for the period. 2026-2030.

The text also allows the buying and selling of carbon credits between bloc countries up to 10% of the annual quota for 2021-2025 and 15% for the period 2026-2030.

According to 2005 data, the decrease in agriculture, transport, building and small industry sectors for Italy will be 43.7% until 2030. The currently projected target is 33%.

Other European countries will also have to adjust upwards to meet their targets: France goes from current 37% to 47.5%; Germany will need to increase from 38% to 50% – the same adjusted percentage that Denmark, Luxembourg, Finland and Sweden should follow.

The measures are the final step in the so-called “Compliance with 55” agreement, which sets new targets for tackling climate change. Among the measures in the package, for example, is a ban on the sale of new cars running on fossil fuels for the next ten years.

The announcement of the deal also comes when the world convenes in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP27. (ANSA).