Britain botches climate target, leaves EU lagging behind – Hufvudstadsbladet

After the Brexit vote, European climate circles fear that the British will neglect climate policy, despite promises to the contrary. Five before Brexit delivers Boris Johnson However, the government has a climate target that makes the EU look toothless.

The UK must cut its climate emissions by at least 68% by 2030. In doing so, it is on track to reach the previously announced target of climate neutrality by 2050.

The UK government says the target is one of the toughest in the world and requires the country to cut its emissions faster than any other major economy. It also notes that the decision was taken after the decision to leave the European Union.

“The target demonstrates British leadership in the fight against climate change,” a government statement said.

The government also points out that Great Britain has cut its emissions more than any other developed country on an equal footing, and that it was the first to announce a target of climate neutrality by 2050. The European Union has the same long-term target, but it has not been updated until 2030.

The British announcement comes shortly before Boris Johnson, along with the UN secretary-general, is due to host a climate summit to mark the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement on December 12. Only countries that have toughened their climate pledges are allowed to take part. The European Union is trying to agree on its 2030 target the day before the summit.

The EU is expected to reach agreement on the Commission’s proposal to tighten the 2030 target to “at least 55 percent.” The Parliament has backed the 60 percent target. The Council, i.e. the governments of the member states, is not expected to accept it. On the contrary, some countries believe the Commission’s target is already too strict.

The UK target does not include forests and land absorbing CO2. The Commission does, which is why the gap between the UK’s ambition level and the European level is actually greater than 13 percentage points, as the European Climate Action (CAN) umbrella organisation points out.

According to CAN, the “at least 55 percent” set by the committee corresponds to 50-53 percent of actual emissions reductions.

The climate movement and a number of think tanks praise the British target, but point out that a strong roadmap is needed for it to be credible.