The environmental protection ministers of the European Union member states meeting in Luxembourg on Wednesday morning, after sixteen hours of negotiations, agreed on five climate protection proposals, among other things, that from 2035 new vehicles can only be put on the market if their carbon dioxide emissions are zero. This practically means the end of internal combustion engines for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.
The legislative proposal for the review of carbon dioxide emission standards was submitted by the European Commission in July 2021. The current agreement is another step towards the proposals becoming EU law.
The five proposals are the direction of 55 percent! is part of the climate protection package, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030 compared to the 1990 level. The EU is the world's third largest emitter.
Several member states, including Italy, wanted to postpone the phase-out of internal combustion engines until 2040. Although this was not achieved, ministers agreed to a clause, referred to in many places as the Ferrari amendment, which gives an additional five years of exemption to car manufacturers that produce fewer than 10,000 vehicles a year.
The climate crisis and its consequences are clear, so it is inevitable that politics will deal with these topics, stated Frans Timmermans, Vice President of the European Commission responsible for the European Green Agreement.
Timmermans added: Russia's war against Ukraine is encouraging countries to move away from fossil energy sources faster.
The ministers also supported the taxation of emissions from residential buildings and vehicles , with the proviso that it be introduced one year later than originally planned, from 2027. According to the Reuters news agency, in tense negotiations, they agreed on the creation of a 59 billion euro social climate fund for the period 2027-2032, which aims to help low-income sections of the population bear the costs of the green transition. Lithuania was the only country to oppose the final agreement, demanding an expansion of the fund.
Poland, Latvia and others have expressed concern about the new carbon tax, stressing that it could significantly increase citizens' spending.
Source: MTI
Image: Pixabay
