EU, First Legislation of 'Carbon Neutrality Goal'... Approval of European Climate Law

55% Reduction by 2030 Compared to 1990... Carbon Neutrality by 2050

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The European Union (EU) member states have adopted the European Climate Law, which legislates the goal of achieving 'carbon neutrality' within the EU by 2050. As the first case where Europe has given legal binding force to carbon emission reduction, it is expected to serve as a milestone for global efforts to address climate change issues.

According to CNN on the 28th (local time), EU member states officially approved the European Climate Law at the European Parliament under the EU on the same day. Earlier, the EU member states and the European Parliament reached an agreement on this law in April.

However, Bulgaria abstained, stating that its position was not sufficiently reflected.

The European Climate Law includes the goal of reducing the EU's net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Carbon neutrality means offsetting carbon emissions that cause global warming through carbon reduction and absorption activities such as renewable energy generation, making the actual net total emissions '0'.

Previously, the European Commission, the EU's executive body, presented the goal of making the EU the 'first climate-neutral continent' by 2050. To this end, it proposed the 'European Green Deal,' a policy plan related to climate change. Following consultations among EU member states under the European Green Deal, the European Climate Law was born.

Until now, carbon emission reduction had remained a declarative agreement, and with cases such as the United States withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, criticism arose that even such agreements were unstable. However, starting with the approval of the European Climate Law on this day, there is a prospect that sustainable efforts toward climate change response goals in each country may spread.

In particular, before the approval of the European Climate Law, only four European countries? the United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg, and Hungary?had established their own laws to ensure legal binding force to comply with carbon emission reduction targets.

With the passage of the European Climate Law, more European countries are expected to join efforts to respond to climate change.

Previously, the existing plan aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, but with the approval of the European Climate Law, the emission reduction target was raised to 55%. Observers predict that large-scale policy changes will inevitably be necessary to achieve this goal.

The EU Commission is also expected to propose policies related to sectors such as industry, energy, transportation, and housing. Additionally, discussions are expected to begin soon with the goal of presenting intermediate carbon reduction targets up to 2040.

According to the European Climate Law, the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change will also be established. This organization will be responsible for providing independent and scientific recommendations regarding the EU's measures and goals in accordance with this law.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.