better insights from the agricultural and forestry sector are needed said the European Court of Auditors

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A recent report issued by the European Court of Auditors acknowledged that EU greenhouse gas inventory had improved over time. The EU and Member State inventories covered the seven main greenhouse gases[1] and all key sectors, as required by international reporting rules.

Nonetheless, the report insists on the need to set EU emissions reduction targets for the forestry, agriculture and shipping sectors if it wants to meet its 2030 emissions targets and its long-term vision to become climate neutral by 2050. Nowadays, the Commission has developed sectoral roadmaps covering almost 70 % of emissions but these two remain uncovered.

Regarding agriculture and quoting the report (paragraph 58) “for agriculture, a key part of the EU budget, the Commission does not have a long-term vision up to 2050. The EU Common Agricultural Policy is defined on a 7-year cycle. The current policy framework covers the period from 2014 until 2020, and the next one from 2021 to 2027. One of the aims of the Common Agricultural Policy is to contribute to climate action, but it does not contain any specific emission reduction commitments. The current EU forests strategy also applies from 2013 until 2020: a relatively short period. The Commission has not yet published an update of this strategy. A medium- and long-term strategy would be a relevant further step, particularly in view of including the LULUCF sector in the 2030 targets.”

We shall see how the new Commission takes these remarks in consideration for a long-term planning, and if specific emission reduction commitments will be part of the ongoing talks on the next CAP.

A new Green Deal is indeed announced within the first 100 days of the new EU executive, taking office on the 1st of December.

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[1] carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)