Fit for 55 is a package by the European Union designed to reduce the European Union's greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. It is part of the union's strategy of the European green deal presented first in December 2019.
The package was proposed in July 2021 by the European Commission. Under an accelerated legislative process, the plans may become law in 2022. Measures include additional support for clean transport, renewables, and a tariff called the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on emissions for high-carbon imports from countries lacking sufficient greenhouse gas reduction measures of their own. It proposes to extend the European Union Emissions Trading System to transport and heat. Compared to the net-zero scenario from the International Energy Agency, the plan contains more measures to ensure that energy remains affordable.
Legislation
The legislation is complicated due to the high level of democratic processes in the European union. The commission sent proposals of the new law to the council and European parliament. The council started discussions including representatives of all 27 member states on the legislative proposals in working parties on an expert level. Based on that exchange the Permanent Representative Committee continues discussions preparing the ground for the council meeting of ministers. The Fit for 55 package proposals are discussed in multiple council formations such as eviroment, energy, transport, economy and finance. After the ministers of each branch found joint positions trilogues including meetings with representatives of the council, parliament and commission start. The larger part of the proposals stick to the regular legislative process of trilogues.
Aspects
emissions trade
social climate fund
carbon boarder adjustment mechanism
Members emission reduction
land use and forestry
transportation co2 standards
methane reduction
alternative fuels
green energy
Energy efficiency
sustainable buildings
hydrogen
Energy taxation
Process
When the bill for carbon market legislation was designed, the conservative fraction in the European Parliament initially weakened the bill. The amended bill was defeated as the social democrats voted against. The final accepted compromise became stronger in emission reduction than the proposal from the European Commission.
Criticism
The environmental organization Greenpeace criticized the package for not being suitable for halting global warming and the associated destruction of important life-support systems because the target envisaged was too low. The organization criticized the classification of bioenergy as renewable energy and the sale of non-emission-free cars by 2035.