“If we actually implement this package, climate protection will finally pay off. Companies that invest in climate-friendly technologies, will have better economic opportunities and, in particular, every individual who behaves in a climate-friendly way, will save money", this was the reaction of the environmental policy spokesman of the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats) Dr. Peter Liese to the presentation of the Fit for 55 package of the European Commission.
"I very much welcome the European Commission's clear focus on market-based measures. We need incentives instead of command and control only. I am sure that the totality of all citizens will produce better ideas for climate protection than if every detail is prescribed by the state or even the European Union," the MEP stressed.
Read more: European Commission presents climate package (Fit for 55)
"EU states are starting to overtake the US with their vaccination campaign," informed MEP Peter Liese, MD, referring to figures from Our World in Data. As of Thursday, 53.4% of the population in Italy has been vaccinated at least once, while the United States have stagnated between 50% and 53% since late May. The EU average is 48.2%, and EU countries are significantly increasing the number of vaccinated people each day.
"I attribute the stagnation in the U.S. primarily to the vaccination skepticism in large segments of the population. It must be acknowledged without envy that the U.S. invested more in vaccine production and procurement last year than the Europeans, in part because they had their own agency called BARDA.
Read more: EU countries overtake U.S. with their vaccination campaign
“I am very happy that, according to the leaks and other information available on the ‘Fit for 55’-proposal, the European Commission is about to include many of the EPP-priorities for the ‘Fit for 55’ package,” said Peter Liese, environmental spokesperson for the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP/Christian Democrats).
Next Wednesday, the European Commission will present its long-awaited proposals to implement the 2030 climate target of net-55% with concrete actions. More than twelve concrete legislative proposals are to be presented. Most of them fall in the remit of the Environment Committee. “As far as I understood, the European Commission will make an ambitious proposal for the support of farmers and forest owners to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, for example, through afforestation. The methodology is designed to support farmers and forest owners through the common agriculture policy as well as private money through a carbon credit system. I very much welcome this idea. Climate neutrality can only be achieved if we not only reduce emissions but also remove carbon from the atmosphere, that is why it is so important to have a net target,” said Liese.
Read more: Market-based measures, innovation, green hydrogen
On Thursday, the European Parliament voted by a large majority in favour of the first European climate law. This makes the climate target of 55% net by 2030 legally binding. As the first continent, Europe gives a legal commitment to climate neutrality in 2050.
Commenting on the outcome of the vote, the environmental spokesman of the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats) Dr. Peter Liese said: "Climate protection is probably the most important task of our generation of politicians. If we do not act vigorously, our children and grandchildren will not be able to get a grip on climate change anymore. We must therefore massively step up our efforts. The adopted target, especially for 2030, is extremely ambitious. Between 1990 and 2020, the EU cut greenhouse gases by 25%; now we have to cut them by 30% in just 9 years. That means not only doubling our efforts, but more than tripling them," Liese said.
Read more: Large majority supports first European climate law in Parliament