Danish climate diplomacy is set for a busy summer. As part of the EU presidency, Climate Minister Lars Aagaard (M) and his officials must negotiate the EU's new climate target for 2040 in just over two months - and that at a time of growing climate skepticism in the union. The risk of failure and an - from a Danish perspective - unambitious target is great.
- It will be a tough political negotiation that we have to go through, and there is no guarantee of success. But there is a guarantee that we will do our best, says Lars Aagaard (M), Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities.
The conclusion of the new climate target is the biggest priority in the green area for Denmark during the EU presidency. It will also lead to a new target that the Union will submit to the UN ahead of the COP30 climate summit in the autumn.
Denmark has called on the EU to adopt a climate target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to the level in 1990. The original plan was for the target to be adopted in the past six months, but the Polish EU presidency delayed the task - to the great frustration of the Danish government.
Agreement will be difficult
The EU Commission has also not presented its proposal for a new target yet. This will happen on July 2, and the EU will submit a climate target to the UN ahead of the international climate negotiations at COP30 as early as September.
Achieving agreement on the target is expected to be difficult, and positions have been sharply divided within the Union. The issue of a new climate target in the EU has become a major point of contention, with more and more EU countries skeptical.
- Several countries can feel a growing concern that climate policy is affecting the population. That it is becoming more expensive to fill up the car and heat the house. There are countries that have large industries that still use a lot of fossil fuels, says Lars Aagaard.
The energy crisis and inflation of recent years have made several countries concerned about whether climate policy measures such as phasing out gas and more expensive meat will come at the expense of needy citizens.
- It is focusing on short-term pain rather than long-term gains, says Lars Aagaard.
The minister has a clear preference - the target should land at least 90 percent. But it will not be a definite disappointment for Denmark if it does not succeed.
- The task as the presidency country is to try to make an agreement that is sufficiently broad that it can be adopted, and at the same time is as ambitious as possible.
/ritzau/
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