EU weakens its climate targets

On November 5, EU environment ministers agreed for the first time on an EU-wide climate target for 2040. They followed the Commission's proposal to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 1990 levels. This interim target supplements the existing provisions of the EU Climate Protection Act, according to which member states are to achieve climate neutrality by 2050  (Art. 2) and reduce their net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent compared to 1990 levels by 2030 (Art. 4). At the same time, however, the Commission has attached so many “revision clauses, sink excuses, and new loopholes” to this proposal that “in the end, only 80 percent could come out of it,” as not only MEP Michael Bloss (Greens) fears.

In order to have something to show at the upcoming 30th World Climate Conference in Belem (251105) , the environment ministers at their recent Council meeting took the further decision to reduce EU emissions by between 66.25 and 72.50 percent by 2035 (always with reference to 1990 levels). The previous target in the EU Climate Protection Act was a 55 percent reduction by 2030. 

Links (internal)

• Germany misses climate target of 65 percent greenhouse gas reduction by 2030 (250209)
• EU Council of Ministers relaxes emission standards for “Euro 7” and ignores e-fuels (230910)
• Climate law aims to ensure EU greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050 (200303)

• List of links to greenhouse gas reduction targets and their implementation