Vice-President Frans Timmermans of the European Commission has urged the European Parliament not to reject or weaken his Fitfor55 climate proposals. He particularly referred to appeals from Christian Democratic EPP politicians Esther de Lange and Manfred Weber to include various exemptions.
On Wednesday, the European Parliament in Strasbourg will vote on large parts of the EU climate package that the European Commission presented last year. Currently, 8 of the 15 climate proposals are on the agenda, such as the expansion of the ETS emissions trading system, a ban on new cars with combustion engines, and stricter laws against air pollution. Brussels also wants to introduce an additional levy on energy 'waste'.
After Wednesday's votes, the Parliament must still reach agreement in trilogue negotiations with EU countries, some of which are known to be unwilling to trade 'today's certainties' for 'tomorrow's uncertainties'.
Timmermans said that difficult decisions lie ahead, but that global warming is not slowing or stopping—it continues. According to him, European politicians can no longer hesitate or postpone action.
The Commission wants, among other things, to impose a carbon tax on fossil fuels like gas and oil used in transport and heating, using that revenue to encourage a shift to cleaner energy sources. However, a report by EPP rapporteurs David Casa and Esther de Lange aims to exclude the automotive industry from this tax for the time being. They also oppose a tax on energy-inefficient homes.
To mitigate the effects of higher prices, a Social Climate Fund of €72 billion has been established to support low-income households—an element especially important for countries in Eastern and Southern Europe, where energy poverty is high.
At the end of the debate, Timmermans called climate change the most transformative challenge for humanity since the industrial revolution era. “We are late with this, but we can still solve it.”