Zuhal Demir: “The new European climate targets amount to incomprehensible and unfeasible bidding”

The Flemish Energy and Climate Plan 2030 was only just approved by the Flemish government last year, and the European Commission wanted to start discussing the 2040 CO2 reduction targets immediately. Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir found this incomprehensible. “The European train rumbles on in its parallel world, further and further away from its citizens in bidding that everyone knows is not feasible. It is incomprehensible that our federal government also supports this increased demand for climate targets at a time when farmers and families alike are struggling,” says Demir, who calls on her colleagues in other governments to seriously question the European policies they support.

On behalf of the Government of Flanders, Zuhal Demir has already formally asked the European Commission to suspend the discussion on the 2040 targets and focus on the extensive amount of work that is on the shelf today to fulfil previous commitments. However, the European Commission is following through and today launching -90% as the new climate target for 2040.

Significant reduction in emissions in Flanders

The Flemish government has made it clear in recent years that it is opting for far-reaching measures in that area that should finally lead to a significant reduction in emissions of 40% by 2030, combined with much-needed investments in climate adaptation such as the Blue Deal and the Climate Adaptation Plan to make Flanders resilient to extreme weather conditions. This resulted in an updated climate plan just last year.

Blind European focus

Yet that did not stop the European Commission from already starting to discuss the (higher) 2040 CO2 targets. This is incomprehensible to Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir, who was previously already critical of the blind focus on ever higher targets, which serve mainly as a distraction from the lack of achievements.  

The federal government does agree

Demir already made her voice heard during a public consultation on the EU 2040 climate target last year at the European level. The Flemish Government formally notified the European Commission that it thinks it is a bad idea to hold the discussion about 2040. Moreover, each Member State has had a long-term strategy for 2050 for several years now. No consideration was given to what they might have to say. This may be because the federal government did welcome new climate targets through Prime Minister De Croo and Minister Zakia Khattabi.

Incomprehensible

“Anyone who simply continues to go along with the European bidding for climate percentages is out of touch with the people. The European train rumbles on in its parallel world, further and further away from its citizens in bidding that everyone knows is not feasible. Moreover, climate adaptation and space for water should be the real priority. It is incomprehensible that our federal government also supports this additional demand for climate targets at a time when farmers and families alike are struggling. I call on all governments in our country to seriously question this European policy and not simply agree to it,” Demir concludes.