Summary:
The European chemicals industry has significantly reduced its emissions but acknowledges the need for further improvements to support the European Green Deal’s aim for climate neutrality by 2050. The 10-point plan proposes revisions to the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) to enhance both environmental and health protection while fostering sustainable production in Europe. Key points include providing clear guidance to Permit Authorities, maintaining ranges of associated emission levels (AELs) for granting permits, and aligning the Best Available Techniques Reference Documents (BREF) scope to cover both environmental and health concerns. The plan also suggests avoiding overlaps with existing regulations, such as the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), and protecting business confidentiality.
Concrete Takeaways:
- Clear Guidance: Ensure Permit Authorities receive precise legal guidance to manage unintended side effects and avoid conflicting abatement targets.
- Reflect technical reality: Maintain ranges of AELs for granting permits, to reflect the operational realities of industrial sites.
- Avoid Redundancies: Prevent overlapping regulations with the ETS and ensure that emerging technologies remain non-binding to promote innovation.