Intent on making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, the European Commission (the EU’s executive branch) recently introduced sweeping new legislation and its intent to reduce the EU’s net carbon emissions by at least 55% by 2030. Released in mid-July, the “Fit for 55” package proposes revisions to several pieces of EU climate legislation, including the EU ETS, Effort Sharing Regulation, and transport and land use legislation. It also sets forth the terms for reaching EU climate targets under the European Green Deal.
According to the AP, the Fit for 55 package includes about 12 major proposals ranging from the de-facto phasing out of gasoline and diesel cars by 2035 to new levies on gases from heating buildings. AP also says most of the proposals build on existing laws that were designed to meet the EU’s original goal of cutting 40% GHG emissions by 2030 (compared to 1990’s levels).
