The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has criticised moves by the Industry Committee in the European Parliament which it says weakens the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA). NZIA is part of the European Green Deal and is aimed at scaling up clean technology production in the EU. This week, the EU’s Industry Committee adopted the NZIA with amendments that WWF has raised concerns about. WWF has criticised the changing of a reference to 2030 climate targets to the ‘Union’s climate neutrality targets’ especially in light of the European Commission this week warning that the EU is not on tract to reach its climate targets for 2030 and that more climate action is needed. The WWF has also criticised the Industry Committee for broadening out the list of technologies within the NZIA to what it says are “unproven technologies like nuclear fusion that could take decades to become available”. Camille Maury, Senior Policy Officer on the Decarbonisation of Industry at WWF European Policy Office, said: “Changing the scope of the Net Zero Industry Act risks diverting taxpayers’ money from the key green technologies we need to decarbonise our industry. 2030 is just around the corner; the EU should instead be investing in green technologies which are truly clean and can deliver fast decarbonisation, such as solar panel production and wind turbines, with renewable hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies only for unavoidable emissions in targeted sectors. Focusing on the deployment of these green technologies is a key opportunity for European industries’ future.” The European Parliament is expected to vote on the Net Zero Industry Act in plenary in November.
.@EP_Industry loses focus on the #NetZero Industry Act by adding too many technologies and allowing projects in #Natura2000 sites. #NZIA
We need a focus on:
☀️💨 #renewables
⚡️Energy savings
🏭Renewable #hydrogen where electrification isn't possible👉https://t.co/QrKvmGWPxS pic.twitter.com/gEElzGg1oj
— WWF EU (@WWFEU) October 25, 2023
