EU Summit just agreed a “binding EU target of a net domestic reduction of at least 55% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030” - so UK going somewhat further at 68%...

That is in reference to 1990 carbon emissions - which is the standard point of reference
VDL trying to sound conciliatory - making point about the ratchet clause that all sides “remain free - sovereign” to do what they are want as regards matching future increases in regulations, but that both sides should retain right to adapt conditions for market entry
On fishing VDL says UK must understand legitimate expectations of EU fishing fleet based on decades and sometimes centuries of access ...
journalists at the EU summit seem more interested in asking Merkel/ VDL about Turkey than summit Brexit discussions, so far zero questions - some informational value there ...
One way to read the VDL comments is a clear nudge towards a mutually agreed two-way ratchet clause, which wasnt on table, apparently in last few days, but was a few months back..
... people are rightly pointing out that the 55% is an EU average target that will be put in law for 2030, and that will be an average comprised of bigger reductions for Western Europe, and lower ones for east -
...This bit of EU climate policy interesting -could it apply to the UK? Presumably not if our carbon reduction is as rapid as PM’s target
“proposing a carbon border adjustment mechanism to ensure environmental integrity of EU policies & avoid carbon leakage in WTO-compatible way”
VDL on the ratchet clause... https://t.co/6wc5OVMU8K
As I’ve pointed out about 8 times this week on here, on air & online, PM has specifically in his words at PMQs and on twins objected to idea that it is only the UK risking penalty tariffs by not following a unilateral EU decision to raise standards...
Detail does matter - eg who and how would it be decided that a divergence has unfairly distorted trade. And all that is rather murky.

IF that can be got right, there’s still a route through here
If there was an attempt to sideline Barnier, its being firmly rejected, eg Dutch PM Rutte: https://t.co/yQ0r7swbZA

More from Climate change

It was a dark and stormy night...

(I’ve always wanted to tweet that) But seriously, there was a tropical storm when a group of people gathered in the woods.

If they were white, we’d call them “founding fathers” but they were slaves who were about to change the world

A thread


Voudou priestess Cecile Fatiman danced with a knife. Then she split a pig and everyone drank the pig’s blood from a wooden bowl while enslaved priest Cutty Boukman prayed:

“The god who created the earth; who created the sun that gives us light. The god who holds up the ocean;

who makes the thunder roar. Our god who has ears to hear. You who are hidden in the clouds, who watch us from where you are. You see all that the white has made us suffer. The white man’s god asks him to commit crimes. But the god within us wants to do good...

It’s He who will direct our arms and bring us the victory. It’s He who will assist us. We all should throw away the image of the white men’s god who is so pitiless. Listen to the voice for liberty that speaks in all our hearts.”

Then , the meeting adjourned & everyone went home.

A week later, on Aug. 21 1791, it began.

In one week, 1800 plantations on the Island of St. Domingue would be burned to the ground and 1,000 white enslavers would be dead.

The shit had finally hit the fan.

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