The European Union and other industrialized countries must now react wisely / "Fit for 55" contribution to global climate protection / EU will raise climate targets and increase pressure on other major emitters / Partnerships to stop the rainforest deforestation

"The electoral success of Lula da Silva in Brazil is a huge opportunity for climate protection. It will perhaps be the last chance to still meet the Paris climate targets and thus avoiding dangerous tipping points. The European Union and the other industrialized countries must now react wisely to seize this opportunity," stated the spokesperson for environmental policy of the largest group in the European Parliament, Dr. Peter Liese (EPP Christian Democrats).

"In contrast to previous elections, the issue of deforestation of the rainforest has played a prominent role in this campaign. Even though it was a close result - the winner's name is Lula da Silva,  who clearly announced during his campaign that he would drastically tighten measures to protect the rainforest. This is a huge opportunity, and we should seize it together with the global community. Only if the deforestation of the rainforests is stopped will we have a realistic chance of achieving the Paris climate agreements of keeping global warming well below 2 degrees and, if possible, limiting it to 1.5 degrees.

The European Union, in partnership with other major emitters, must now take the following steps:

1. Support action to stop rainforest deforestation, including through financial means. In its decisions on the "Fit for 55 Package", the European Parliament has earmarked significantly more international climate protection funds, both on the border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and emissions trading. This is where the Council of Ministers should now move as well.
   
   
2. Our climate protection efforts must be geared so that they always lead to more climate protection in third countries and that energy-intensive industry in Europe survives. We want to decarbonize industry rather than de-industrialize Europe. That would not be a good example for the rest of the world. I support measures such as the border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), which makes imports from countries with significantly fewer environmental protection measures more expensive. However, we must proceed carefully enough to allow enough time for proper preparation and partnership building.
   
   
3. The European Union must raise its climate target to at least 57 percent. The European Council announced last week, largely unobserved by the public, that once the negotiations on the "Fit for 55 package" are completed, the climate target under the Paris Agreement will be increased. The European Commission's legislative proposals alone, which are uncontroversial in terms of ambition levels in the Council and Parliament, take us from 55 to 57 percent net.

In my report on emissions trading, the European Parliament also decided on an increase of ambition in 2030. I will fight to ensure an increase at the end of the process. At the same time, we need breathing space for companies and electricity consumers in the current crisis. This means that the climate protection efforts may be more moderate up to the end of 2024/25. After that, however, the level of ambition must be significantly increased in the direction of 2030," explained Liese, who is the Rapporteur of the European Parliament on emission trading.