Flanders wants EU to postpone discussion on 2040 CO2 targets

The Flemish government has asked the European Commission to suspend discussions on CO2 reduction targets by 2040, Flemish minister for Energy and Environment Zuhal Demir said on Sunday. The minister spoke of "the great amount of work we face today to fulfil previous commitments".

According to Demir, all Flemish government parties agree it is a bad idea to start discussions on the 2040 CO2 reduction targets now. A formal message asking for a postponement was sent to the European Commission through the Flemish Energy and Climate Agency on Friday.

"The focus of member states in the coming years should be on achieving the already ambitious 2030 targets through concrete measures. The nature of these short-term challenges, in our view, justifies postponing the discussion on the 2040 target," the message to the European Commission states.

"The focus of member states in the coming years should be on achieving the already ambitious 2030 targets through concrete measures"

"The Flemish government considers that the priority of the European Commission should therefore be to help member states accelerate the transition from imported fossil fuels and ensure the availability of affordable energy, through the implementation of the agreed dossiers."

Demir said that, "when the time is right", the Flemish government would contribute constructively to the discussions on setting the 2040 target.

^{#FlandersNewsService | Flemish Environment minister Zuhal Demir © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE}