A coalition of NGS has blasted the European Parliament’s Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) saying that it supports the interests of industry rather than prioritising climate front-runners.

CAN Europe, the WWF and European Environment Bureau have written a joint statement and release that “laments that reduced environmental standards and an expanded list of strategic technologies, with controversial additions, will ultimately undermine the effectiveness of the law”.

The European Commission tabled the NZIA as tool to support domestic manufacturing of green technologies helping the EU meet its 2030 climate targets. The position approved by the European Parliament, the NGOs say, does not account for such goals, but also raises several concerns about stretching NZIA resources, disregarding public participation, and attacking biodiversity and nature.
Specifically, an overemphasis on CCUS as a panacea for all industrial emissions is highlighted by the letter. The ability of CCUS technology to develop has been a key issue, with proponents seeing it as a method of large scale carbon reduction ands others seeing it as an unproven cure.

The NGOs note: “The European [EU] approach is to achieve more with less, demanding precise actions. As the discussion now shifts to the Council, civil society implores EU decision-makers to refocus the NZIA on proven and short-term solutions, aligning with its environmental and strategic objectives.”

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