If the EU were to get a conservative climate commissioner, left-wing lawmakers would make it happen – at least for a while. The new head of the EU Green Deal, Maroš Šefčovič, and the climate commissioner-designate, Wopke Hoekstra, finally received the blessing of the European Parliament’s environment committee on Wednesday. A formal vote on confirmation in plenary is scheduled for Thursday. The committee’s approval came only after MEPs, dissatisfied with what they heard in hours-long hearings earlier this week, forced Šefčovič and Hoekstra to answer supplementary questions in writing. Green-minded MEPs in particular have sought to put pressure on both candidates, demanding clarification of specific legislative files and diplomatic efforts – notably setting a new EU climate target for 2040. (ZIA WEISE)