European parliament shows strong support for a net zero target by 2050

The European Parliament adopted on 17 January its position on the EU’s Energy Union Governance Regulation. Whilst only a step in the legislative process of the EU, the Parliament’s vote lent strong political support to the development of an ambitious long-term decarbonisation pathway for the Union, which is the third largest emitter of GHG globally.

By a large majority, the European Parliament asked the European Commission, the executive body of the EU, to produce a long-term decarbonisation plan by 1^st January 2019 in line with a net-zero emissions target by 2050. Emissions would have to reach negative territory soon after. The long-term plan would be revised every 5 years in light of technological, economic and scientific developments. This plan would upgrade the EU’s current long-term target of 80-95% reduction by 2050.

Negotiations between EU institutions and Member States will now start to define the final position of the European Union.

More information about the vote can be found in this Euractiv article.

© European Union 2017 – European Parliament