During his hearing in the European Parliament today, Commissioner-designate Frans Timmermans, pledged to propose an increase of the EU 2030 climate target to 55% emission cuts. The timing of this proposal however might not allow for Member States' approval well in time before the UN Climate Summit in November 2020, thereby depriving the EU of its global climate leadership role.
Read more: Timmermans willing to increase climate action but struggles with UN timeline
A clear majority of EU Environment Ministers have called for raising the EU 2030 climate target today. Others, representing 10 Members States, have turned a blind eye to numerous calls from climate scientists and millions of people protesting in the streets and prevented the EU from scaling up action to tackle the climate emergency in line with EU citizens’ demands.
The hearings of Commissioner candidates in front of the European Parliament from 30 September to 8 October will test the climate credentials of the new Commission.
During her hearing in front of the European Parliament today, Kadri Simson, Estonian commissioner-designate for energy focused on the implementation of the current, weak renewable energy and energy efficiency targets.
She was however very unclear on the need to raise them in order to contribute to higher climate ambition, and her support for fossil gas shows she still needs to find her way towards the clean energy transition.
Read more: Kadri Simson unclear about the need for higher energy targets
The new landmark IPCC report on oceans released today shows that oceans are poised to turn into a huge threat to humanity unless we massively scale up emission cuts in line with the goal to keep temperature rise to 1.5°C.
Read more: Without rapid action, world faces destructive ocean- and ice-related climate impacts