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The clock is ticking! EPHA calls on the EU to step up climate efforts by 2030

The climate emergency is a major threat to public health. In its response to the European Commission’s roadmap for the 2030 Climate Target Plan Initiative, EPHA calls for an ambitious plan at European level to reduce EU emissions and to become a climate-neutral continent.

While the EU’s aim at cutting its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% (instead of 40%) by 2030, EPHA suggests a reduction of 65% GHG emissions by 2030 in order to be aligned with the Paris Agreement objective to keep temperature rise below 1.5°C. The UNEP report underlines that, to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C, all countries need to reduce their GHG emissions by 7.6% yearly between 2020 and 2030. It means that the European Union should have an emission reduction target of at least 65% by 2030 and should aim at climate neutrality by 2040.

In order to achieve a GHG emission reduction of 65% by 2030, these aspects shall be reflected in the EU Climate 2030 targets accordingly. EPHA therefore suggests including the following elements into the EU proposal to contribute to mitigating the negative public health impacts of the climate crisis.

As an overarching principle, the Climate 2030 targets should:

  • Recognise that the climate crisis has a negative impact on human health and biodiversity, which will endanger the well-being and the future of new generations;
  • Acknowledge that immediate and concerted actions, engaging diverse policy areas and actors across society in enabling systemic change.

The EU should;

  • Include a climate impact assessment in all future EU policies, including health and well-being impacts; the Lancet Countdown Climate Change and health indicators (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(19)32596-6/fulltext) provide a good basis from which the EU can draw inspiration;
  • Include a calculation on how much will the initiative contribute to prevent cancer therefore contribute effectively to the European Beating cancer plan;
  • Add a legally binding target for GHG emission reductions from agriculture because the global food system is responsible for up to 30% of anthropogenic GHG emissions;
  • Commit to mobilise its resources to invest in walking, cycling and improve public transport infrastructures, to achieve the shift in mobility;
  • Explore and support the legal, financial, coordination or promotion tools the development of ambitious policies such as:
    • revision of climate and health harmful air pollutant limits,
    • expand zero emission vehicles,
    • urban policies, e.g. ultra-low emission zones, congestion charging parking policies, tax measures and incentives, encourage car-free days and car-sharing.
  • Aim to end all sales of conventional fossil fuel-powered cars by 2028 and phase out all petrol and diesel cars by 2045.

Decisively, tackling climate change by keeping global warming below 1.5°C is one of the greatest health challenges of the 21st century. The highest level of ambition in European climate law is needed to ensure climate neutrality before the middle of this century. A transformation towards sustainability of all sectors of Europe’s economy and society, with health at the heart of policy-making, has the potential to improve all our lives, and those of our children.

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