Raising the climate target -a boomerang for climate protection?

After the increase of the climate target to a 60 % reduction of greenhouse gases by 2030 decided by the EU Parliament yesterday, Hans Jürgen Kerkhoff, President of WV Stahl, is concerned about an EU climate policy that is exclusively focused on targets. Setting ever higher climate targets without pointing out ways and instruments to achieve them must not become a boomerang for climate protection. The industry can only make a significant contribution to achieving the EU's 2030 climate target through green steel production and sustainable products if suitable political framework conditions accompany the huge investments in low-CO2 technologies. In addition to comprehensive financial support for low-CO2 production processes and the development of a hydrogen economy with the necessary energy infrastructure, the politicians must succeed in protecting industrial production in Europe from carbon leakage, the relocation of production to regions of the world with significantly lower climate protection requirements. The most important instrument remains a free allocation of certificates within the framework of the EU emissions trading scheme.

Source and photo: WV Stahl