EU lawmakers face hundreds of amendments in key votes on climate policies

The European Parliament will vote on a raft EU climate change policies to reduce Europe's carbon emissions over the next decade. Proposals face multiple amendments, and the outcome is uncertain for some of Europe's most ambitious plans.

These plans are designed to help the European Union, which is comprised of 27 countries and is the third-largest in the world, reach its goal of reducing net global warming emissions by 55% by 2030. This target was set from 1990 levels.

The EU's complex legislative process will see eight proposed legislations debated by parliament on Tuesday, and voted on Wednesday. This is to confirm the position of the parliament for negotiations with EU members on the final legislation.

The parliament is required to examine hundreds of amendments that could either increase or decrease the impact of EU climate policies.

This proposal is the largest overhaul to the EU carbon market, since 2005's launch. Under an original plan of the European Commission that drafts EU laws, this would strengthen the scheme to reduce emissions in the sectors it covers by 61%.

Some lawmakers will try to increase that limit to 67%. Peter Liese is the lead negotiator for the carbon market reform in parliament. He stated that he is optimistic that a compromise to reduce emissions by 63% would be supported by the majority.

Liese also predicted that there would be a "controversial" vote on the EU's first plan to impose a CO2 tax on imports of carbon-intensive goods such as steel and cement. There are split lawmakers over how fast the scheme should replace the CO2 permits these industries receive.

The options up for vote Wednesday include the elimination of all free CO2 permits by 2030 or 2032, or 2035. Industries urged lawmakers to not push forward the date as it would increase the cost of polluting.

Another plan by the EU is to cut CO2 emissions from all new cars by 100% by 2035. This effectively bans new combustion engine car sales within the EU. Some amendments could weaken this to a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2035.