Today, the European Commission reached a provisional agreement between the co-legislators on the European Climate Law, which is one of the core components of the European Green Deal. The European Climate Law emphasizes the EU's commitment to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and the mid-term target of reducing net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

This agreement on the European Climate Law is a major landmark for the von der Leyen Commission, since it is fulfilling one of the commitments communicated in the President's Political Guidelines in July 2019. The European Climate Law will help determine the path of green recovery and socially just green transition of the European Union for the coming decades.

Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, stated that this agreement is an important step for the EU, because it writes into legislation the climate neutrality target, making it official. It also strengthens the EU’s position as a global leader in handling the climate crisis, hopefully encouraging the rest of the world to follow the same path.

This deal not only reinforces the target of climate neutrality by 2050 but also consolidates the European framework for climate action by introducing the following features:

• an ambitious 2030 climate target of at least 55% reduction of net emissions as compared to 1990, with clarity on the contribution of emission reductions and removals;
• recognition of the need to enhance the EU's carbon sink through a more demanding LULUCF (Land Use, Land Use Change & Forestry) regulation, for which the Commission will make proposals in June 2021;
• a procedure for setting a 2040 climate target, taking into account an indicative greenhouse gas budget for 2030-2050 to be published by the Commission;
• a commitment to negative emissions after 2050;
• the establishment of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change, which will provide independent scientific advice;
• tougher provisions on adaptation to climate change;
• solid coherence across Union policies with the climate neutrality objective;
• a commitment to engage with sectors to prepare sector-specific roadmaps charting the path to climate neutrality in different areas of the economy.

The Commission submitted its proposal for a European Climate Law on 4 March 2020. Once today's provisional agreement is formally approved by Parliament and Council, the European Climate Law will be published in the Official Journal of the Union and will enter into force.

Image © European Commission, 2021