Delivering Climate Targets

This research paper examines the social impacts of the EU's Fit for 55 Package, which targets a 55% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. It argues that while the long-term health and environmental benefits are clear, the transition risks marginalizing vulnerable citizens and carbon-dependent regions. The authors advocate for progressive fiscal policies, the redistribution of carbon revenues to households, and targeted support through the Just Transition Fund and the Social Climate Fund to ensure a just energy transition.

• The EU's Fit for 55 Package (FF55) aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, but its mitigation policies risk disproportionately affecting vulnerable citizens and workers in carbon-intensive industries if not properly designed.
• To maintain political support and protect living standards, the paper recommends progressive fiscal reforms, such as ending fossil fuel subsidies and increasing carbon prices, provided that the resulting revenues are redistributed to households.
• Due to unprecedented energy prices caused by the war in Ukraine, there is an urgent need for energy policies that provide short-term budget compensation for vulnerable households and long-term access to clean mobility and energy renovation.
• The EU has established mechanisms to support regions dependent on carbon-intensive industries, including the Just Transition Fund created in 2020 to assist coal-dependent regions, and the proposed Social Climate Fund within the FF55.
• Starting in 2026, the extension of carbon pricing to the transport and building sectors, along with reforms to eliminate energy taxation loopholes, will impact the final energy prices paid by European citizens.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2022). Delivering Climate Targets. https://www.sei.org/publications/delivering-climate-targets/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Delivering Climate Targets. 2022. https://www.sei.org/publications/delivering-climate-targets/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Delivering Climate Targets |date=29 September 2022 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/delivering-climate-targets/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2022delivering, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Delivering Climate Targets}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2022}, month = sep, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/delivering-climate-targets/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }