The European Commission has presented a plan for the ecological development of the EU for decades to come. It includes new taxes, subsidies and benchmarks. The main thing from the package of documents is in the review of RBC Trends
What happened
On July 14, 2021, the European Commission published a package of proposals to reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Called the European Green Deal (“European Green Deal”), it, in particular, provides for the transition to cars free of CO2 emissions by 2035.
The law also establishes lower limits for CO2 emission control for the EU countries in order to exclude the possibility of such scenarios when emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere are formally reduced, but only through a large number of green spaces in the country - thus, the law de facto obliges countries to EU members to actively fight against carbon dioxide emissions.
Recall that in March 2020, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia prepared a strategy for the long-term development of Russia with a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In December 2020, the EU Summit approved a target to reduce carbon emissions by 55% by 2030
Prior to that, in 2013, the European Commission proposed to EU countries to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030. And in 2016, the EU and 195 countries signed the Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to keep global temperature rises within 2°C (preferably 1.5°C).
Since the European Green Deal is a package of initiatives, we have chosen a few key points to describe what it includes and what exactly it changes.
Emissions from automobile, aviation and other industries
The tax for airlines on non-environmentally friendly fuel (jet fuel) is expected to be introduced in 2023 and raised from zero to the maximum rate within ten years. True, the size of the marginal rate in the document is not specified. So the European Commission hopes to encourage carriers to switch to more environmentally friendly fuel.
The European Union has proposed to speed up the disposal of automobile internal combustion engines. Cars registered from 2035 will have to be environmentally friendly. Recall that the Ukrainian authorities proposed to ban the import of gasoline cars from 2030. And France will stop selling petrol and diesel cars by 2040. Britain wants to ban the sale of diesel and gasoline cars in the country from 2040.
The development of electric vehicles. Within ten years, it is planned to invest about €50 billion in this industry through public and private investments. For example, refueling at regular intervals on major highways: every 60 km for electric charging and every 150 km for refueling with hydrogen. Recall that the program for the development of electric vehicles in Russia has risen in price to ₽800 billion. Since 2016, charging for electric vehicles has been included in the list of requirements for equipping Russian filling stations.
It is planned to involve all sectors of the European economy, including electricity generation, the automotive and housing sectors, as well as shipping, aviation and agriculture, to the mechanism for trading CO2 emissions. In 2023, taxes will be introduced on the supply of steel, cement, fertilizers and aluminum.
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Removal of carbon from the atmosphere
Fight against deforestation. The EU is developing a plan to plant 3 billion trees across Europe by 2030.
By 2035, the EU should strive to achieve carbon neutrality in the sectors of land use, forestry and agriculture. Recall that Netflix announced a program to transition to carbon neutrality. Sberbank has decided to “zero out” the carbon footprint of its branches by 2030.
By 2030, the Land Use, Forestry and Agriculture Ordinance sets an overall EU target for carbon removal by natural sinks, equivalent to 310 million tons of CO2 emissions.
Europe's ambitious climate action will not lead to a "carbon leak". Because the new carbon frontier regulation mechanism will set a carbon price for target product imports.
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Development of renewable energy sources
By 2030, the Renewable Energy Directive sets a goal of producing 40% of energy from renewable sources. It will be about a comprehensive solution to the problem: reducing overall energy consumption, reducing emissions and solving the problem of energy poverty. Now the production and use of energy accounts for 75% of harmful emissions in the European Union.
EU member states will have to promote the use of renewable energy sources. For example, in transport, heating and cooling of residential and industrial buildings.
The public sector will have to renovate 3% of its buildings each year to spur a wave of renovations, create jobs and reduce energy consumption and costs for taxpayers.
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Energy tax
The energy tax directive proposes to bring the taxation of energy products in line with EU energy and climate policy, promoting clean technologies and removing outdated exemptions and reduced rates that currently encourage the use of fossil fuels.
When will the EC offer package be implemented?
Starting in early 2023, the carbon footprint and tax base reporting scheme will go live in test mode, with importers given a three-year transitional period before the levy begins in 2026.
By 2035, it is planned to switch to completely “clean” (free of carbon dioxide emissions) cars.
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How can the state promote the environmental agenda?
Opinions on the package of documents
Green MEP Michael Bloss wrote on his Twitter that the climate package is necessary and includes a number of important proposals, but some key points for environmental protection are either missing or smoothed out.
The Ministry of Economic Development estimated Russia's losses due to EU climate reforms at $7.6 billion. It is for this amount that the European Commission's program to combat climate change, namely the cross-border carbon tax, will affect Russian exports of steel, aluminum, pipes, electricity and cement.

In turn, Anna Zalewska, a member of the European Parliament from Poland, a representative of the ruling conservative Law and Justice party, warns that the measures proposed by the European Commission will cost citizens and governments dearly. In her home country, coal mines will have to be closed: “The adopted document is disappointing. There is no money for it now. Without proper funding, it will not be possible to achieve a fair result for all. The climate law contains orders and prohibitions. It will not only lead to new taxes, but will also increase the cost of everyday life.” Bloss of the Greens also noted that the social aspect was not clearly spelled out in the document.

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