European Union Affairs Committee discussed Estonia’s carbon neutrality

NordenBladet —

The European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) started a series of parliamentary hearings in order to prepare a resolution with which Estonia will participate in the European Union negotiations on 2050 climate targets.

“The greatest challenge for Estonia in climate issues is exit from oil shale energy. It is a sensitive topic that has major economic and social impacts,” Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee Anneli Ott said.

The dangers relating to the increase of the average temperature on Earth and the impact of different sectors on climate were discussed at the sitting. The experts told that at the increase in the Earth’s the average temperature by 1.5 degrees (in comparison to pre-Industrial Revolution level), the threats to the natural environment and humankind are considerably smaller that at warming by 2 degrees. To get results, it is necessary to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in all sectors. The ideal is to achieve climate neutrality, which means that the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in the air is not larger than the ecosystem is able to bind.

Experts of the Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre, who are preparing an analysis of Estonia’s potential to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 at the request of the Government of Estonia, delivered a report at the sitting.

The next parliamentary hearing at the European Union Affairs Committee will take place on 20 September. Representatives of energy intensive and green technology enterprises have been invited to attend. On 27 September, the European Union Affairs Committee will discuss meeting of Estonia’s 2020 and 2030 climate targets with the Minister of the Environment.

Riigikogu Press Service
Kristi Sobak
Phone +372 631 6592, +372 5190 6975
E-mail kristi.sobak@riigikogu.ee
Questions press@riigikogu.ee

Source: Parliament of Estonia