The EU is at risk of failing to meet its 2030 climate and energy targets, according to a report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA).
During a review of the EU’s progress towards its climate change goals, the ECA reported finding little indication actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 will be sufficient.
Although the EU has performed well by global comparison in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the ECA criticised the bloc for failing to account for all of its emissions.
The ECA expects that emission levels would be approximately one-tenth higher if emissions caused by trade, international aviation and shipping were included.
Joëlle Elvinger, an ECA member who led the audit, said: “We also believe that all greenhouse gas emissions caused by the EU should be accounted for… This is important as the EU has committed itself to be a global leader in the transition towards climate neutrality”.
The report also found that reporting on the performance of the EU and its member states on their climate and energy actions lacked transparency.
The EU has failed to provide sufficient information on the cost to the EU budget, national budget, and private sector of achieving the climate targets, according to the ECA..
The ECA said this made it difficult to learn lessons for upcoming targets and creates challenges when determining whether the EU is pursuing its overall targets cost-effectively.
Even though the EU achieved its three climate and energy targets for 2020, the auditors have claimed this was not due to EU climate action alone.
According to the ECA, the EU would not have achieved its 2020 energy efficiency target without the lower energy consumption that resulted from the 2009 financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.
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