In a recent letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans, the Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament has shared five key messages on climate. The input comes ahead of the Fit for 2030 climate package to be presented by the European Commission in mid-July 2021, calling on the Commission to ensure a balanced and successful package that delivers on climate objectives while ensuring a just transition.

Dacian Cioloş, President of Renew Europe and co-writer of the letter, said:

"This is a historic opportunity and Renew Europe is determined to make the transition to climate neutrality a European success story, to secure sustainable economic growth, green industrial research and innovation and job opportunities for our citizens. People, families, businesses are at the heart of the European Green Deal. The Fit for 2030 package should set the framework for this transformation and build on existing climate and energy laws, turn needs into investment opportunities and take responsibility for generations to come. Renew Europe will stand firmly by its ambitions."

Pascal Canfin MEP (Renaissance, FR), European Parliament Chair of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and co-writer of the letter, said:

"Renew Europe is calling for an ambitious Fit for 2030 package that will set Europe’s sectoral ambition and pathway to achieve the objectives of the Climate Law and for Europe to become the first carbon neutral continent by 2050 at the latest. However, it needs to be ensured that both the climate ambition and pathway to achieve the green transition are just. Renew Europe has thus identified five flagship priorities ahead of the publication of the package in mid-July.”

Renew Europe’s five key messages for the upcoming Fit for 2030 climate package are:

• Ensuring a price on pollution through a WTO-compatible carbon border adjustment mechanism as part of a strengthened Emissions Trading System;
• Encouraging the transition to zero-emission mobility through ambitious CO2 standards for new cars bringing the EU on the trajectory to achieving its objective of climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, accompanied by the infrastructure needed to achieve the targets;
• Giving renewable energy a boost through an ambitious target of at least 40% of energy from renewables in 2030, with the aim of reaching a target of at least 45% in a sustainable way, accompanied by a supporting market framework and a focus on research and innovation;
• Introducing an EU framework to reward carbon removal and biodiversity restoration, which promotes carbon farming as an additional income for farmers;
• Ensuring a balanced and just transition, by accompanying new proposals having direct social impacts with a package of measures to counterbalance these effects, starting with a just transition fund for the automotive sector, focusing on small and medium sized suppliers.

Nils Torvalds MEP (SFP, FI), Renew Europe Coordinator on the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety is the third co-writer of the letter.