Editor's note
International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics
Thursday, 02.05.2024, 00:06
European “green & climate pacts”: effect for Baltics
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Our magazine would like to remind the decision-makers in the
Baltic States about the necessity of approving urgent practical measures to mitigate the growth’s negative effect on
European and global climate “abnormalities”! These measures- most probably
different in the Baltic States- would have something in common: i.e. reduction
of industrial, manufacturing and household’s pollution, as well as adequate
measures towards clean air, water, nature protection, etc.
Double initiative – double responsibilities
Recent EU’ moves: e.g. the green deal and the climate law
are supposed to turn the member states’ climate and environmental challenges
into opportunities across all policy areas, while making the transition just
and inclusive for all. This message from the Commission’s guidelines shall be
the guiding principles for practical actions in the Baltic States.
According to the Commission’s priorities for the next five
years, the key objectives of the EU states are proper environmental policies that enable the creation (or
proceeding with) an sustainable industrial base using modern digital
technologies, while reducing transport pollution, constructing/renovating residential
“smart houses and more efficient/smarter working facilities.
Digital services and technologies are being already widely
used in the EU states: these technologies are becoming more progressive: e.g.
new 5G-based networking can “re-configure” the data-centers and telecom’s
networks. In this way the ICT-users will have trustful, secure and transparent
operation systems.
The European “climate law” sets both the 2050 target and the
directions for the member states’ policies, as well as guidelines for public
authorities and businesses. At the same time, the Commission is launching a
public consultation on the future of the “climate law” as the EU’s legally
binding instruments for reaching zero
greenhouse gas emissions, ZGGE by 2050. In this way, the EU institutions
and the member states’ authorities will be collectively bound to take the
necessary measures at their corresponding areas to meet the target.
Historically, the newly elected Commission first set out its
vision for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 in November 2018; that is in line
with the Paris Agreement objectives (2015) to keep the global temperature
increase below 2°C and pursue efforts to keep it to 1.5°C. The climate-neutral
strategy was followed by the Commission’s “green deal”, which was made public
in mid-December 2019. Then, the European Parliament endorsed the EU’s ZGGS
objectives in mid-March 2019 and in December 2019 the European Council approved
these objectives.
The essence of the “green deal” and the climate pact is the
European and the member states’ new growth strategies that would transform
their economies into modern, resource-efficient and competitive. The following
three socio-economic parameters shall be included: a) elimination of net
emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050; b) de-coupling the economic growth from
fossil-fuel’s resources, and c) inclusive aspects in policies, where “no person
and no place is left behind”.
More on the EU long-term climate strategy in: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/strategies/2050_en;
on the “green deal” in: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en
In both strategies,
the EU “climate law” is regarded as the so-called “legal transposition
instrument” of the present Commission’s political commitment towards the
European green deal and member states’ sustainable future. The Commission
President noticed in the law’s introduction in March 2020 that the climate law
was supposed to offer “predictability and transparency for European industry and
investors”, while providing directions to the member states’ green growth
strategies.
Reference to: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_20_335
The “climate law” includes measures to keep track of
progress and adjust member states’ actions accordingly, based on
existing systems such as the governance process for the states' National Energy
and Climate Plans, regular reports by the European Environment Agency, and the
latest scientific evidence on climate change and its impacts. Progress will be
reviewed every five years, in line with the global account measures under the
Paris Agreement.
Reaching the ZGGE-2050
Based on a comprehensive impact assessment, the Commission
proposes new 2030 EU targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions.
By June 2021, the Commission will review, and where necessary propose to
revise, all relevant policy instruments to achieve the additional emission
reductions for 2030. The greenhouse gas emission reductions will be constantly
measured providing for some progress and give predictability to public authorities,
businesses and citizens.
By September 2023, and every five years thereafter, the
Commission will assess the consistency of the national measures with the
climate-neutrality objective and the 2030-2050 trajectory.
Then the Commission will issue recommendations to the member
states whose actions are inconsistent with the climate-neutrality objective;
these states will be obliged to take due account of these recommendations or to
explain their reasoning if they fail to do so.
The EU states will also be required to develop and implement
adaptation
strategies to strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to the
effects of climate change.
Public consultations
The Baltic States’ authorities still have time –although
quite short - for preparation: the Commission is launching in the beginning of
March a public consultation process on a new European climate pact, providing
for a broad initiative for citizens and stakeholders in designing new climate
actions, as well as sharing information, launching grassroots activities and
showcasing solutions for others to follow.
The public consultation is open for three months; the inputs
will be used to shape the “climate pact”, which will be launched at the United
Nations Climate Change Conference taking place in Glasgow in November 2020
(COP26).
Presently, the Commission started publication of the
inception impact assessments on the future Carbon Border Adjustment
Mechanism, CBAM and the review of the energy taxation Directive
(two other important policy instruments under the European green deal).
In addition, the College of Commissioners adopted a proposal
to designate 2021 as the European Year
of Rail to support the delivery of the “green deal” in the transport
sector, e.g. in increasing passenger and freight use of the rail network.
More on other important issues in the Commission’s web-links:
On the energy taxation revision directive in: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12227-Revision-of-the-Energy-Tax-Directive
On the European Year
of Rail in: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_364
