Brussels:Cyprus, along with eight other European Union member states, has been instructed by the European Commission to submit a corrective action plan within three months. This directive comes after the 2026 Climate Action Progress Report indicated that Cyprus is not on track to meet its binding targets under the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) for reducing emissions.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the report highlights that Cyprus, Croatia, and Italy are projected to exceed their permitted emission limits during the first compliance period of 2021-2025. Despite full usage of ESR flexibilities, these countries are not making sufficient progress. Moreover, for the second compliance period of 2026-2030, Austria, Germany, Italy, Malta, Ireland, Lithuania, and Sweden are also expected to exceed their limits.
The European Commission notes that while the EU as a whole is anticipated to have a surplus of emission allocations, there have been no reported transfers between member states to cover the deficits. Consequently, the Commission will request national corrective action plans from the nine countries under Article 8 of the ESR.
European Commission climate spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen briefed journalists that Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra will send a letter to the nine member states, including Cyprus, urging them to submit their plans. The Commission will evaluate the robustness of these plans within four months of receipt, with compliance checks scheduled for 2027 and 2032 for the respective periods.
The report further notes that Cyprus and Italy have not submitted the required report on the usage of revenue from Emissions Trading System (ETS) allowances, which was due by July 31, 2026. At the EU level, emissions in ESR sectors are projected to fall by 38.5% by 2030, slightly below the 40% target.
Climate Commissioner Hoekstra emphasized Europe's commitment to climate action, noting provisional data showing a 1.6% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions in 2025. The Commission's spokesperson acknowledged the need for accelerated efforts, which will be a topic at the upcoming COP31 in Antalya.
The EU has set a legally binding target of a 90% reduction in emissions by 2040, with further legislative amendments proposed for the post-2030 period. The Commission highlighted that adaptation requires significant investments and introduced a new Climate Resilience Framework in October.
Source Cyprus News Agency