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EU most likely exaggerating climate-friendly costs, auditors state

The EU is exaggerating costs on climatefriendly tasks, possibly by billions of euros, the bloc's auditors stated on Wednesday, pointing out examples of countries declaring spending on IT systems and wages as green.

The 27-country EU has actually vowed to invest at least 37% of its 700 billion euro ($ 774 bln) COVID-19 recovery fund, consisting of loans and grants, on procedures to address environment modification.

By the EU's own estimate, countries have actually surpassed that goal and by February had earmarked 275 billion euros, 42.5% of the funds designated up until now, on investments to assist satisfy green goals.

That figure may be overstating the EU's green costs by a minimum of 34.5 billion euros, the auditors stated.

The European Court of Auditors' analysis discovered EU countries had labelled many tasks as green in spite of having just a. rare link. They included IT systems to digitalise a water. supply system. That was rated by Croatia as having a 40% climate. contribution, which the auditors said need to been 0%.

In another example, Slovakia ranked the wages of its. personnel managing the COVID-19 fund as climate-friendly costs,. the auditors said.

Others had uncertain climate advantages. A Portuguese investment. in public transport, tagged as 100% green, did not count the. emissions that building the job would produce - making. it tough to approximate net cost savings once completed, the. auditors stated. Similarly, the effect of a Greek hydropower plant. was not examined for its negative impact on biodiversity.

In action, a European Commission representative stated the. COVID-19 fund had carried considerable resources into green. jobs, and it had thoroughly checked countries' planned. costs.

' LITTLE INDICATION'

The auditors likewise kept in mind examples of great practice -. including a Greek 1.25 billion euro strategy to make energy cost savings. in more than 100,000 homes. Other costs labelled as green. included renewable resource projects, railways and electrical vehicle. charging infrastructure.

However in general, the EU's system of ranking jobs' environment. contribution, under which they are offered a 0%, 40% or 100%. ranking, was not particular enough and was leading to. exaggerations, the auditors stated.

This method ultimately offers little indicator of how. much money goes straight to the green shift, stated Joelle. Elvinger, the auditor who led the report.

The Commission stated its approach offered sufficient. accuracy, and enforcing more granular guidelines would create complex. bureaucracy in future funds.

(source: Reuters)