In December, European leaders, including Prime Minister Rutte, agreed to tighten up the climate targets. Average CO2 emissions in the European Union must have fallen by 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990.
Timmermans’ twelve proposals lead to major changes for motorists, energy suppliers and companies. All European legislation and guidelines are being tightened up to achieve the target of 55 percent.
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No combustion engine
The intention is that the combustion engine in cars will come to an end by 2035. The same goes for plugin hybrids. The draft documents do not yet contain definitive numbers. If ‘100 percent phasing out’ is agreed, this means the complete disappearance of the combustion engine, but ’95 percent phasing out’ can also be a possibility. In that case, the combustion engine almost completely disappears.
Timmermans wants to strongly stimulate electric cars. More charging stations are coming. A charging station must be available every 150 kilometers along all main highways, that is the intention in the preliminary plans.
Member States must have enough charging capacity available, depending on the number of electric cars. This means: the more electric cars, the more charging capacity must be made available. The interim target for 2030 is that 60 percent of new cars sold in Europe are electric cars.
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Higher bill for polluting energy
The average target for renewable energy in the European Union is being increased. Now the target for 2030 is still 32 percent, but that will be increased to 38 to 40 percent. That means more solar panels and more wind turbines in all European member states. Biomass is also and will remain a sustainable energy source, but the requirements are being tightened.
Timmermans also wants to start pricing the CO2 emissions caused by houses or cars. This is not done through a direct tax on motorists or homeowners, but through the purchase of emission rights. Companies, such as energy companies and gas stations, have to buy these emission rights. They pay for the CO2 pollution and through this system those companies are forced to become more sustainable more quickly. This is guaranteed to lead to higher prices for fossil energy and fossil fuels.
This system, comparable to the current emissions trading for industry, should generate billions of euros. That money will be put into a social climate fund to help citizens of the Member States buy electric cars or make their homes energy efficient.
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Production outside Europe
To prevent companies from relocating their environmentally polluting production outside the European Union, the Commission wants to introduce a ‘carbon border adjustment mechanism’. For example, if a producer purchases steel from outside the European Union, a surcharge may be imposed.
Timmermans’ proposals also include plans to plant more trees and make aviation pay more. A tax on kerosene is proposed, but it is highly uncertain whether this plan will receive enough support.
Expect a lot of opposition
Timmermans will present his proposals next week. After that, the Member States and the European Parliament have to agree. Much opposition is expected. Member States fear that the bill will end up with homeowners and motorists. For example, France is wary of a repeat of the ‘yellow vest’ protests, which arose out of dissatisfaction with rising petrol prices.
The European Parliament probably thinks the plans do not go far enough.
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