‘Fit for 55’: delivering the EU’s 2030 Climate Target on the way to climate neutrality

Summary:

Communication published by the European Commission on 14 July 2021, providing an overview and reasoning for a package of legislative initiatives aimed at making policies put forward by the European Union (EU) on climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation fire for reducing net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels), in line with the objectives set out by the Commission's European Green Deal.

Further information:

The European Green Deal was presented in December 2019 and it set the goal of making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The European Climate Law enshrined in binding legislation the EU's commitment to climate neutrality and the intermediate target of reducing net GHG emissions by at least 55% by 2030. This objective was communicated to the UNFCCC in December 2020 as the EU's contribution to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.

This Communication provides the reasoning and overview to the so-called Fit for 55 Package, a package of legislative initiatives aimed delivering on the objectives. It provides the linkages between the different proposals and explains to toolbox of policy measures chosen. It presents how the package strikes a balance between fairness, emissions reductions, and competitiveness and illustrates how the different policies work together.

The package introduces amendments to existing pieces of legislation and also presents new initiatives, across a range of policy areas and sectors:

• Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2018/841 as regards the scope, simplifying the compliance rules, setting out the targets of the Member States for 2030 and committing to the collective achievement of climate neutrality by 2035 in the land use, forestry and agriculture sector, and Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 as regards improvement in monitoring, reporting, tracking of progress and review;
• Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2018/842 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement;
• Proposal for a Directive amending Directive (EU) 2018/2001, Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and Directive 98/70/EC as regards the promotion of energy from renewable sources and repealing Council Directive (EU) 2015/652;
• Proposal for a Directive on energy efficiency (recast);
• Proposal for a Directive amending Directive 2003/87/EC as regards aviation's contribution to the Union’s economy-wide emission reduction target and appropriately implementing a global market-based measure;
• Proposal for a Regulation on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport;
• Proposal for a Regulation on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport and amending Directive 2009/16/EC;
• Proposal for a Regulation on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, and repealing Directive 2014/94/EU;
• Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2019/631 as regards strengthening the CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles in line with the Union’s increased climate ambition;
• Proposal for a Regulation establishing a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism;
• Proposal for a Council Directive restructuring the Union framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity (recast);
• Proposal for a Directive amending Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a system for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Union, Decision (EU) 2015/1814 concerning the establishment and operation of a market stability reserve for the Union greenhouse gas emission trading scheme and Regulation (EU) 2015/757;
• Proposal for a Decision amending Directive 2003/87/EC as regards the notification of offsetting in respect of a global market-based measure for aircraft operators based in the Union;
• Proposal for a Decision amending Decision (EU) 2015/1814 as regards the amount of allowances to be placed in the market stability reserve for the Union greenhouse gas emission trading scheme until 2030;
• Proposal for a Regulation establishing a Social Climate Fund;
• Communication on a strategic rollout plan to outline a set of supplementary actions to support the rapid deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure.

Official

European Commission: Priorities 2019-2024: European Green Deal: Fit for 55: Delivering on the proposals https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/delivering-european-green-deal/fit-55-delivering-proposals_en

General Secretariat of the Council: Policies: Fit for 55 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/green-deal/fit-for-55-the-eu-plan-for-a-green-transition/

European Commission: Press Release, 14/07/2021: European Green Deal: Commission proposes transformation of EU economy and society to meet climate ambitions https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_3541

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen on delivering the European Green Deal (14 July 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_21_3701

European Commission: Statement by Executive Vice-President Timmermans on delivering the European Green Deal (14 July 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_3722

European Commission: Statement by Commissioner Simson on delivering the European Green Deal (14 July 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_3709

European Commission: Statement by Commissioner Sinkevičius on delivering the European Green Deal (14 July 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_3708

French Government: News, 15/07/2021: Fit for 55: a new cycle of European climate policies – Press release issued by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/climate-and-environment/news/article/fit-for-55-a-new-cycle-of-european-climate-policies-press-release-issued-by-the

Swedish Government, 05/07/2023: EU Fit for 55 climate package a milestone in climate action https://www.government.se/articles/2023/07/eu-fit-for-55-climate-package-a-milestone-in-climate-action/

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News

Politico: Tag: Fit for 55 https://www.politico.eu/tag/fit-for-55/

EurActiv: Topics: Fit for 55 https://www.euractiv.com/topics/fit-for-55/

Deutsche Welle, 14/07/2021: EU proposes sweeping 'Fit for 55' emissions reduction plan https://p.dw.com/p/3wUUe

Reuters, 14/07/2021: Reactions to EU's "Fit for 55" climate plan https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/reactions-eus-fit-55-climate-plan-2021-07-14/

The Irish Times, 14/07/2021: EU to unveil landmark plan to reduce carbon footprint https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/eu-to-unveil-landmark-plan-to-reduce-carbon-footprint-1.4620170

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Commentary and Analysis

Linklaters: Insights: European Green Deal - The “Fit for 55 Package” https://www.linklaters.com/en/insights/thought-leadership/energy/european-green-deal

Heinrich Böll Foundation: Dossiers: The EU's Fit-for-55 package. The European Green Deal's fitness test https://eu.boell.org/en/fit-for-55

ETUC: ETUC resolution on “Fit for 55” package (26 March 2021) https://www.etuc.org/en/document/etuc-resolution-fit-55-package

Jacques Delors Institute: Policy Paper No 263, 19/04/2021: Make Regulation Fit for Innovation - How EU Regulations Can Enable Innovations for a Climate Neutral Economy? https://institutdelors.eu/en/publications/make-regulation-fit-for-innovation/

VoteWatch Europe: Blog, 16/06/2021: ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package: mapping MEPs’ views and influence https://www.votewatch.eu/blog/executive-webinar-climate-and-energy-mapping-meps-views-and-influence/

European Policy Centre (EPC): Policy Brief, 30/06/2021: Is the EU's building renovation wave 'fit for 55'? https://www.epc.eu/en/Publications/Is-the-EUs-building-renovation-wave-fit-for-55~40d990

Robert Schuman Foundation: European Issues: Policy Paper, 06/07/2021: Fit for 55: towards the achievement of an ambitious European political compromise for climate https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/doc/questions-d-europe/qe-603-en.pdf

Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI): Blog, 08/07/2021: EU climate ambition: four challenges for the Fit-for-55 legislative package https://www.iddri.org/en/publications-and-events/blog-post/eu-climate-ambition-four-challenges-fit-55-legislative-package

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF): News, 09/07/2021: Fit for 55%: what is expected, and what is WWF calling for? https://www.wwf.eu/?uNewsID=3999966

Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS): In Brief, 12/07/2021: Fit for 55 – is the European Green Deal really leaving no-one behind? https://www.ceps.eu/fit-for-55-is-the-european-green-deal-really-leaving-no-one-behind/

EUObserver: Analysis, 13/07/2021: 'Fit for 55': what is it, and why now? https://euobserver.com/climate/152419

European Environmental Bureau: News, 14/07/2021: EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ is unfit and unfair https://eeb.org/eus-fit-for-55-is-unfit-and-unfair-ngos-say/

Bruegel: Blog, 14/07/2021: Fit for 55 marks Europe’s climate moment of truth https://www.bruegel.org/2021/07/fit-for-55-marks-europes-climate-moment-of-truth/

European University Institute (EUI): Florence School of Regulation: News, 14/07/2021: Fit for 55: EU rolls out largest ever legislative package in pursuit of climate goals https://fsr.eui.eu/fit-for-55-eu-rolls-out-largest-ever-legislative-package-in-pursuit-of-climate-goals/

Oxfam International: Press Release, 14/07/2021: Fit for 55 Package: Not fit to tackle climate emergency says Oxfam https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/fit-55-package-not-fit-tackle-climate-emergency-says-oxfam

E3G: Press Release, 14/07/2021: Fit for 55: The EU’s impressive dive into deep and whole-economy decarbonisation https://www.e3g.org/news/fit-for-55-the-eu-s-impressive-dive-into-deep-and-whole-economy-decarbonisation/

Transport & Environment: Press Release, 14/07/2021: Fit for 55 ‘fails’ to right wrongs of EU’s disastrous biofuels policy https://www.transportenvironment.org/press/fit-55-%E2%80%98fails%E2%80%99-right-wrongs-eu%E2%80%99s-disastrous-biofuels-policy

Microsoft: EU Policy Blog, 14/07/2021: Fit for 55 lays the groundwork for real progress toward a net zero carbon economy https://blogs.microsoft.com/eupolicy/2021/07/14/fit-for-55-lays-the-groundwork-for-real-progress-toward-a-net-zero-carbon-economy/

Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP): News, 14/07/2021: 'Fit for 55' package extends EU carbon price signal to over two thirds of emissions by 2030 https://ieep.eu/news/fit-for-55-package-extends-eu-carbon-price-signal-to-over-two-thirds-of-emissions-by-2030

Influence Map: Press Release, 15/07/2021: Strong Industry Pushback Ahead of EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ Climate Package https://influencemap.org/pressrelease/Strong-industry-pushback-ahead-of-EU-s-Fit-for-55-climate-package-6b1fc706f9f28934756b4a1267a556f0

Social Europe, 19/07/2021: Is Europe socially fit for the ‘Fit for 55’ package? https://www.socialeurope.eu/is-europe-socially-fit-for-the-fit-for-55-package

European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Commentary, 19/07/2021: The Fit for 55 package: A diplomatic tightrope https://ecfr.eu/article/the-fit-for-55-package-a-diplomatic-tightrope/

Centre for European Reform (CER): Bulletin, 27/07/2021: The 'Fit for 55' climate proposals explained https://www.cer.eu/publications/archive/bulletin-article/2021/fit-55-climate-proposals-explained

European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA): Messages from Director General, 29/09/2021: Fit for 55: a much-needed reality check for EU policy and decision makers to keep mobility accessible https://www.acea.auto/message-dg/fit-for-55-a-much-needed-reality-check-for-eu-policy-and-decision-makers-to-keep-mobility-accessible/

Norton Rose Fulbright: Insights, February 2022: ‘Fit for 55’: a quick overview https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/en-gb/knowledge/publications/1ab5016b/fit-for-55-a-quick-overview

ING Think: Article, 16/02/2022: Just how fit is the EU’s Fit for 55 climate strategy for Europe’s economy? https://think.ing.com/articles/just-how-fit-is-the-eus-fit-for-55-climate-strategy-for-europes-economy/

European Climate Foundation (ECF), 05/04/2022: The ‘Fit For 55’ package at a glance https://europeanclimate.org/stories/the-fit-for-55-package-at-a-glance/

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 03/06/2022: Fit for 55 package https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)733513

E3G: Blog, 15/07/2022: Citizens can help EU achieve success in ‘Fit for 55’ negotiations https://www.e3g.org/news/citizens-can-help-eu-achieve-success-in-fit-for-55-negotiations/

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer: Sustainability Blog, 05/09/2022: EU legislators limber up for intense negotiations on the ‘Fit for 55’ package https://sustainability.freshfields.com/post/102hwfl/eu-legislators-limber-up-for-intense-negotiations-on-the-fit-for-55-package

Cambridge University: Institute for Sustainable Leadership (CSIL): Report, March 2023: The path towards a socially just Fit for 55 package: How have social elements of the Fit for 55 package evolved in the context of the climate, energy, and cost-of-living crises? https://www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/resources/publications/path-towards-socially-just-fit-55-package-how-have-social-elements-fit-55

London School of Economics (LSE): Grantham Research Institute: Press Release, 23/03/2023: European Union ‘Fit-for-55 package’ to kickstart wave of climate litigation https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/news/european-union-fit-for-55-package-to-kickstart-wave-of-climate-litigation/

Climate Action Network (CAN Europe): Briefing, 22/05/2023: Mind the gap! Assessing Climate Action under the ‘Fit For 55’ Package https://caneurope.org/assessment-climate-action-fit-for-55-mind-the-gap/

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