EU saying farewell to climate protection?
The EU's climate policy is under pressure: several member states are opposing the bid to set specific climate targets for 2035 and 2040. As a result, the bloc failed to reach a deal at yesterday's summit. In the run-up to the meeting, no less than 79 industrial companies had lobbied against emissions certificates, which they argued were too expensive. Meanwhile, more than 2,000 academics have warned that scientific findings must not be ignored in the debate.
Renewables simply make sense
This sends the wrong signal to European industry, De Volkskrant warns:
“Europe must become energy independent as quickly as possible, especially now that it has decided to stop importing liquefied natural gas from Russia. Renewable energy sources are urgently needed, also for European industry. It can only remain strong if it maintains its technological lead and spearheads the energy transition. Now China is threatening to reap the benefits. Climate policy must therefore not only be a matter of principle but can also be sold as a matter of morality, common sense and self-interest.”
A disastrous U-turn
The EU has strayed from its wisely chosen course, Le Soir criticises:
“In this debate in which only industrial and agricultural lobbies seem to have a say, issues such as health, well-being and securing the livelihoods of current and future generations have been swept aside. The project of transitioning the economy to a sustainable model is off the table. The costs of inaction and the consequences of a deteriorating climate are not even on the agenda. Is it even possible to protect the essential elements of the environmental goals from this tsunami? And who will champion them? After all the enthusiasm with which the Paris Agreement was greeted, how long will the current backlash last?”
Too costly for society
Newssite wPolityce.pl worries about the economic and social costs of the EU's climate policy:
“Maintaining the competitiveness of many EU industries during the ongoing transition to zero-emission technologies is one of the key problems. Another is the high social costs of climate policy, especially in view of the introduction of a carbon tax planned for 2027 which will lead to a drastic increase in fuel prices and heating costs, especially in countries such as Poland, where fossil fuels continue to play a major role.”