European Youth Denmark
EUD
Organisation for young pro-Europeans in Denmark.
ID: 793776237252-20
Lobbying Activity
Response to 2030 Climate Target Plan
15 Apr 2020
European Youth Denmark stresses that this agenda is important in a time of multiple interlinked crises threatening our health, economy and environment. We reiterate our call to listen to science: targets must be binding and based on research. Experts indicate 2040 as the latest that carbon neutrality should be achieved. 2050 is the carbon neutrality deadline for the whole world according to IPCC, so the EU as a wealthy region proud of our capacity for innovation must be climate neutral far earlier.
Some countries have already pledged to reach climate neutrality earlier, including EU member states. Sweden and Scotland aim for 2045. Austria aims for 2040 and Finland 2035. Norway and Uruguay aim for 2030. This shows that faster and more ambitious measures to achieve climate neutrality are possible and must also be taken by the EU.
The 2030 targets are too low. The current consensus is that there needs to be a reduction of 65% compared to 1990 levels. The targets for years earlier than the goal for climate neutrality must make reductions as close as possible to linearity so we avoid having to pay for steep reductions at a later time. Early reductions are also important because the problem is the total sum of greenhouse gasses emitted, i.e. the area under the emission curve is important, not just that it ends in zero. It is important that we keep working in this direction in spite of the other challenges the EU is facing in the short term in areas of public health and the economy because if we postpone climate action the cost of inaction will grow both financially and in the impact on citizens.
Science clearly shows that we are confronted with an existential global crisis and that we need to act immediately. Therefore, the EU must hurry up and increase its 2030 targets as soon as possible to make sure that these higher targets are achieved. If there is not sufficient enforcement then the law and the target will be meaningless. There needs to be appropriate mechanisms in place to monitor progress towards the goal and to ensure compliance with the law.
While in the long-term a fast and comprehensive transition will make our economy and society more resilient and prosperous, the EU must not shy away from measures that may be perceived as drastic or expensive in the short term, but that are shown by science to be crucial in fighting the climate crisis. This includes an immediate phase out of fossil fuels and an efficient greenhouse gas pricing mechanism, including a carbon border tax. While investments in research to develop new technologies, contributing to climate mitigation, is important, plans need to be made based on options that are already available, it is pure speculation to predict when new technologies will be available and to what extent they can contribute to climate mitigation. It would be an irresponsible gamble with our future to take such contributions for granted when developing a strategy to combat the climate crisis.
A successful strategy to fight the climate crisis requires a comprehensive financial blueprint, indicating how all costs for the necessary investments are going to be covered. While a sustainable transformation will be profitable in the long-term, as scientists and experts predict, it will initially involve significant costs. Costs and profits could be distributed differently: on the one hand, in an unjust way, imposing the biggest burden on those who are struggling already while granting the profits to those who are already privileged. On the other hand, the distribution can be done in a just way, by making those who can afford it pay most while everyone enjoys the profit. The EU must choose the latter ensuring a just transformation of our economy. Besides moral and social implications, a just transition will increase the general acceptance of the urgent measures taken to fight the climate crisis by minimising social hardship, which could be used as an argument against comprehensive measures.
Read full responseResponse to Climate Law
6 Feb 2020
European Youth Denmark embraces the idea of a binding European climate law, in order to ensure Member States to be committed to reaching the goal of climate neutrality in 2050. However, this is too late according to many experts, the deadline should be 2040 and targets before this date should be set high enough to make neutrality in 2040 realistic.
Climate neutrality by 2040 - Transformative action
The European Union has previously shown broad initiatives in order to combat climate change. However, previous initiatives and non-legislative strategies have proven insufficient. When the EU has reached its goals, like reducing 20% of emissions by 2020, the goal was simply not ambitious enough to reach the Paris agreement. When the EU has set ambitious goals, the goals were not reached.
This is why a European climate law needs not only to be binding, in order for Member States to follow through, but the goals that are set, and the action to follow up, also need to match the urgency of the situation, which is lasting, irreversible and accelerating destruction of the climate that mankind depends on.
A holistic approach to combating climate change
Ideally, a European climate law would bring about new measures and implications across all sectors. This is because climate change is caused by human activity in all sectors, and thus all sectors need to adapt.This would include measures and objectives for transport, industrial and agricultural sector, besides the existing focus on energy and nature. Destructive activity in resource excavation, resource management, transport as well as land use is to be reduced.
We take positive note of the intentions of climate proofing of investments and taking into account climate costs, strengthening incentives for developing climate-friendly and sustainable practices, products and technologies, as well as integration into the European Semester process. For strengthening the incentives for developing climate-friendly and sustainable practice, we urge the implementation of the following measures which are essential for achieving a swift transition:
- Stop fossil fuel subsidies. Currently, states are giving the fossil industry an unfair advantage over greener alternatives by giving subsidies, tax benefits or targeted support for increased exploitation of fossil resources. This slows down the green transition by making fossil fuels artificially cheap. Common definitions of what it means to give a subsidy or a competitive advantage to the fossil industry need to be in place and member states must commit to abolishing the subsidies. This could be followed up in the European Semester or another tracking mechanism. This is also necessary for SDG indicator 12.c.1
- Put a higher price on greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, the price on emissions is too low compared to the Social Cost of Carbon. The price needs to be increased drastically and all sectors included. To avoid causing leak of emissions to other regions, a carbon border tax is essential.
- Include an international perspective in the climate law. The EU should track how our consumption influences emissions in other regions. Including the production of goods we import and the LULUCF factors related to our import of food and feed products. A goal for reducing these impacts should be set. These aspects should be included in trade agreements.
- Modernise transport networks. Invest in local, national and transnational railway network so that they become a cheaper and equally efficient method of transport as the airplane. Furthermore, it is necessary to promote sustainable and free public transport for students.
- Promote circular economy end efficient resource use. Use the inner market to set high standards for the quality of products so consumers can trust that they last longer and are repairable and recyclable. Utilize waste as a resource.
- Invest in ecosystem rebuilding and protection. Incentivise converting farmland to nature
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