This briefing provides an initial analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the European Commission’s impact assessment (IA) accompanying the proposal to amend the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) Regulation (EU) 2018/841. Despite the effort involved, the IA contains a number of shortcoming that significantly limit its potential to usefully inform policy-making.

 The proposal is part of the 'fit for 55' legislative package announced in the 2020 Commission communication on stepping up Europe's 2030 climate ambition (the climate target plan) and its impact assessment. The proposal aims to amend the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) Regulation (EU) 2018/841 that covers the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals resulting from the management of land, forests and biomass. Together with the LULUCF Regulation, the proposal amends Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on the governance of the energy union and climate action, asit includes the rules for monitoring and reporting on GHG emissions and removals and for tracking Member States' progress towards achieving the targets under the LULUCF Regulation. These amendments are part of the review of relevant EU legislation to provide for the achievement of the 'at least 55 % net GHG emissions reduction target' by 2030 and the climate neutrality objective by 2050, set out in Articles 4 and 2 of the European Climate Law, Regulation (EU) 2021/1119, respectively. The proposal is included in the 2021 Commission work programme and the 2021 Joint Declaration on legislative priorities

Source: European Parliament