European Union (EU)
The European Union rises three places to 19th in this year’s CCPI, achieving an overall medium rating and landing within the top 20. The EU receives a medium rating in the GHG Emissions, Renewable Energy, and Energy Use categories. In Climate Policy, it receives a high, reflecting the progress the supranational union has made in this category since a year before.
Ambition levels are inconsistent with the Paris Agreement
The EU is updating its 2030 climate and energy policy framework considering its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reach a 55% net emissions reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050. Negotiations between European Council and European Parliament are underway within the “Fit For 55 package” and are expected to conclude in late 2022 or early 2023.
The CCPI experts noted that foreseen ambition levels remain inconsistent with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement. Also, to contribute a fair share to achieving the Paris Agreement objectives, the EU should cut emissions by at least 65% by 2030 and become climate-neutral by 2040.
Public funding sources should only use for Renewable Energy
During the recent energy crisis resulting from factors such as drastically reducing Russian natural gas imports because of the invasion of Ukraine, the EU has looked inter alia towards Africa and other areas for securing new fossil gas supplies and developing new gas/hydrogen infrastructure (pipelines, LNG).
The CCPI experts highlight that the EU’s diversification strategy towards new gas supplies and infrastructure should by no means be financed by public funding sources in order to not lock in additional emissions for decades to come. Such sources need to be channelled only to deployment of renewable energy and energy savings. The experts demand that the EU ensure that current emergency measures and diversification strategy do not hamper the long-term decarbonisation targets.
Key Outcomes
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CCPI experts
The following national experts agreed to be mentioned as contributors for this year’s CCPI:
- Chiara Martinelli, Theodora Petroula & Klaus Röhrig (Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe)
- Raphael Hanoteaux (E3G)
- Germanwatch
