EU 2030 carbon compromise in October?
The European Union can set its 2030 carbon goals as soon as October this year if the bloc’s governments agree to ease the cost for poorer countries to implement the policies, said Marcin Korolec, Poland’s former environment minister and current chief climate negotiator.
The EU needs a “coherent” environment strategy for the next decade while ensuring its industry stays competitive worldwide, Korolec said in an interview with Bloomberg. However, in the past three years it is Poland which has twice vetoed EU ministerial statements on emissions goals that could lead to tighter greenhouse-gas reduction policies. Meanwhile a climate target decision by EU leaders requires unanimity.
But Korolec now says “A compromise solution is possible even this autumn,” adding that “We had certain exceptional provisions agreed under the existing legislation and it seems obvious that such special conditions are necessary to see a consensus already in October.”
Poland, which relies on coal for about 90 percent of its power, has led a coalition of mostly east European nations urging more cautious policies on carbon emissions.
