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4.111. Replacing and repealing the EUTR [EU Timber Regulation], the proposed new regulation builds on both the EUTR and FLEGT [Forest Law Enforcement, Governance & Trade] regulations, which both underwent a fitness check evaluation in 2020. The proposed regulation would require products to be (i) "deforestation-free" (produced on land that was not subject to deforestation or forest degradation after 31 December 2020); (ii) produced in compliance with national laws ("legality"); and (iii) accompanied by due diligence statements. It would therefore build on and strengthen the existing due diligence and monitoring systems contained in the EUTR regarding the legal status of timber but adding the requirement of products being "deforestation free". Wood covered by a FLEGT licence would continue to be considered as having met the legality requirement.

4.112. The European Union continues its efforts of sustainable economic transformation as initially spelled out in the first EU Strategy for Sustainable Development in 2001, and most recently deepened in the European Green Deal and the Climate Law as well as the REPowerEU Plan. The key objectives of the European energy policy consist of completing the internal market while ensuring a fundamental shift towards an energy-efficient, cost-effective, and reliable system based on renewable and low-carbon energy, improving energy security, reducing emissions, and ultimately achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

4.113. A 2022 report by the European Environmental Agency found that the European Union had on average achieved its three targets for 2020 (i) of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to the 1990 levels by 20% (they declined by 31.9%); (ii) at least 20% of gross energy consumption being from renewable sources (actually 22.1%); (...)

4.114. In 2021, the European Commission published the Fit-for-55 package, aiming to ensure EU policies align with the climate-related goals of the European Green Deal and the Climate Law, which includes an intermediate target of 55% GHG emission reduction by 2030 and becoming climate-neutral by 2050 (Section 1). The package contains the Fit-for-55 communication as well as 16 energy- and climate-related legislative proposals that are currently in various stages of discussion. The proposals relating to energy primarily focus on emission reductions through multiple channels such as, inter alia, phasing out coal, accelerating the roll-out of renewables, increasing energy efficiency, and decarbonizing gas across various industries. The package also includes proposals to increase and broaden targets for emissions reductions; revise the Emissions Trading System, including expanding it to other sectors and complementing it with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism; and establish a Social Climate Fund to cushion the impact of the introduction of the emissions trading in the building and road transport sectors on the vulnerable. Member States will be required to update their national energy and climate plans by 2023 and 2024, and to publish a national Social Climate Plan.

4.115. An important element of the transition to more sustainable energy use relates to efforts to increase energy efficiency, which the European Green Deal stresses as one of the priorities. Amendments to the Energy Efficiency Directive (Directive 2012/27/EU) in 2018 increased the ambition of the improvement target to at least 32.5% by 2030 (relative to modelling projections for 2030). As part of the Fit-for-55-package in 2021, the Commission proposed a new Energy Efficiency Directive that would establish a more ambitious target for 2030 based on a 2020 baseline projection, according to the Commission (the REPowerEU Plan upped this target further (Section 4.4.5)). If adopted as proposed, a separate reform of the current Energy Taxation Directive (ETD) would, inter alia, set minimum excise duty rates for energy products based on their energy content and environmental performance and eliminate the current mandatory excise duty exemptions for fuels used for waterborne navigation, including fishing (Section 4.2.2).

4.116. In the revised Renewable Energy Directive, the European Union has also established a target for a renewable energy share of at least 32% of gross final consumption by 2030. The Directive also establishes a minimum share per member State, applicable since 2021. In 2021, the Commission proposed to increase this target to 40% , with the REPowerEU Plan proposing to increase this target further (Section 4.4.5). At the same time, the biodiversity strategy aims to limit the use of whole trees, food, or feed crops for energy. In mid-2022, based on a Commission Delegated Regulation, labelling of investments in gas and nuclear power plants, subject to strict conditions, was included in the EU taxonomy for sustainable activities (Section 4.5.1.2.4) that favour the transition to a carbon-neutral economy with effect from January 2023 [141]. At the end of 2022, the Council agreed to faster permit granting processes for renewables (Section 4.4.5).
[141] Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1214. The Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852) and delegated regulations outline which economic activities and investments qualify as contributing to a low-carbon transition.

1.2. (...) Apart from locally refined oil, Gabon's current diversification initiatives consist largely of the sustainable development of its timber and mining industries. (...)

Table 2.1 Gabon's principal trade related laws and regulations, 2023
Sector: Environment
Instrument/law: Law No. 16/93 of 26 August 1993

2.10. The "Emerging Gabon" strategic plan (PSGE) 2011-25 represents an ambitious programme of reforms, policies and investment aimed at diversifying the economy to lessen its dependence on oil by sustainably exploiting its comparative advantages, including its natural resources, and improving the competitiveness of its industrial and services sectors. Mindful of Gabon's comparative advantages, the plan identifies four priority areas for attention: (i) sustainable human development; (ii) governance; (iii) human capital; and (iv) infrastructure. In terms of trade policy, the objective of the PSGE is the sustainable integration of Gabon into subregional and global trade.

2.11. The PSGE [the "Emerging Gabon" strategic plan] has three strategic pillars: "Green Gabon", "Industrial Gabon" and "Service oriented Gabon". The Green Gabon pillar pursues the optimal exploitation of Gabon's rich land, including its forest resources and exceptional biodiversity. The Industrial Gabon pillar has been designed around the development of local subcontracting as a means to gain maximum value from Gabon's underground resources. The Service oriented Gabon pillar is about tapping the potential of Gabon's human capital to meet the economy's need for greater diversification.