The Polish ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) has expressed its disappointment by the decision taken by the European Parliament (EP) to increase the rate of emissions reduction.
The European Parliament voted on Tuesday to reform the emission trading system (ETS) so as to reduce emissions even more by 2030. The CO2 emission certificates are already a major cost for the energy sector and remain the EU’s main instrument for limiting emissions.
At the end of last year, the EU parliament and the European Council agreed to increase emission reduction targets by 2030 from 40 percent to 62 percent. That decision was confirmed on Tuesday, with MEPs voting by 413 to 167 for the ETS reform measure.
Poland’s ruling conservatives did not hide their displeasure at the decision. PiS MEP Anna Zalewska said that “this was a sad day for the European Parliament.”
As a result of the vote, the price of a ton of CO2 will now be €100.
“Today, a decision was taken that Europeans will have to bear the costs of the EU’s climate ideas,” said Zalewska. She added that “there will be no more cheap flights in Europe in two years” and that also car owners will suffer disproportionately.
The European Parliament had for the first time voted for the ETS system to cover sea transport and that it would reduce concessions for air traffic.
The reform of the ETS system was an element of the “Fit for 55” package published in July 2021, which is designed to facilitate a minimum reduction of 55 percent (from 1990 levels) in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and for the EU to reach the goal of climate neutrality by 2050.
