Tariffs and petrol positions in the EU climate package

On Wednesday, the European Commission introduced the giant climate package, “Fit for 55” (“Fit for 55”, in English). Everything is ready to achieve two of the main goals of the new EU climate law: zero emissions by 2050, by reducing emissions by 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

To access, real changes are required.

Europe is the first continent to offer a coherent architecture for how to achieve our climate ambitions. “We have the targets and now we are presenting a map of how to get there,” says Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission.

The comprehensive proposal has it all From brand new parts to changes and additions to existing climate rules. Among other things, it is proposed to create a kind of climate tariff – CBAM for short in English (Climate Limits Adjustment Mechanism) – which will be levied on a number of selected goods imported from countries with low environmental ambitions.

But initially, only fertilizers, cement, aluminum, steel and electricity were affected.

The system will be used from January 1, 2026 – if only EU member states and the European Parliament can give the green light before then.

Other measures are changes to trade in emissions rights, to also include maritime traffic, road transport and construction. The new emissions limits then effectively mean a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in just over ten years.

By 2035, all new cars will be zero-emissions. If before that you could come up with an internal combustion engine that didn’t emit anything, that’s fine. Another commission official says technology that produces carbon dioxide will not be allowed.

On the road to 2035, a new one is set The goal is to reduce emissions in grams per kilometer by 55 percent, instead of the current target of 25 percent.

If we reach minus 55 (percent of emissions reductions) by 2030, and climate neutrality in 2050, humanity has a chance, says Vice President in charge of climate Frans Timmermans in Brussels.

New targets should also be set for how much energy should be renewable, in general and for different types of fuel.

For example, sustainable fuels must be included in all refueled jet fuel in the EU by 2030. Until then, manufacturers will also be obligated to increase the sustainable share of their fuel.

The new proposals will now be discussed and approved in the usual way by EU member states and members of the European Parliament. The first green light is not expected until the first half of 2022, when France will chair the EU Council of Ministers.

Read more:

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The Twelve Climate Laws of the European Commission

Jonas Fruberg: Tougher EU requirements on CO2 would be a wake-up call for the motoring world