The European Commission is missing another historic opportunity to phase out fossil fuels in the ‘Fit for 55’ package, leaving the door open for coal, gas and oil to stay in the EU energy system for at least another two decades while sending the “polluter pays” bill to EU citizens.

The European Commission will release on 14 July the latest instalment of the European Green Deal: ‘Fit for 55’, details of which have been leaked to the press. This package is meant to align a wide range of EU policies with the EU’s 55% net emissions reduction target for 2030.

The most relevant EU green policy dossier of the year not only fails to provide climate-neutral roadmaps and sector-specific targets, but also continues to shield EU industry from paying the full cost of pollution.

Introducing an Emissions Trading Scheme for buildings and transport while maintaining free CO2 allowances for industry and using public funds to finance fossil fuels in Europe will de facto shift the cost of pollution from the actual polluters to the final consumer.

“What the Commission says is ‘Fit for 55’ is unfit for our planet and unfair to society. Without a fossil fuel phase-out, the fuel industry will pass on emission costs for buildings and transport to citizens and still keep making immense profits” says Barbara Mariani, EEB Policy Manager for Climate.

Sectors that generate the greatest emissions and pollution, such as heavy industry and agriculture, are still excluded from the effort required to contribute to climate neutrality by using all the options already available today.

The targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency are far below the level of ambition needed to keep global warming below 1.5C and they are not binding at national level. This will delay the energy transition in the member states, since the current EU climate and energy governance framework has proven insufficient to fill the gap.

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