EU member states reached a crucial agreement Wednesday on the bloc's climate milestones, setting a binding target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, just days before the start of the COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil.
Under the agreement, the EU aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 at the latest, compared to 1990 levels. The bloc's interim target for 2030 remains a 55% reduction.
Danish Climate Minister Lars Aagaard said the compromise "shows that we can stand together, even in difficult times," adding that the targets would guide policies, industry, and investment decisions for decades.
"With that in place, we can build a stronger, more competitive, and secure EU. That's a big deal," Aagaard said.
"The target is in line with science. It's needed, not only for showing our global leadership and climate but it's also there to give guidance to industry," he said at a joint press conference after the ministerial meeting in Brussels.
The agreement provides the European Commission with a formal mandate ahead of COP30, where the EU aims to push for stronger global commitments across climate finance, adaptation, mitigation, and nature protection.
European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra welcomed the outcome as both "ambitious and pragmatic," stressing that the deal balances climate action, competitiveness, and energy independence.
"I think, a very good compromise. We have agreed to a legally binding headline 2040 target of 90% with a domestic target of 85% and up to 5 international credits. We have reaffirmed the flexibilities that we've put on the table," he said.
The European Commission initially proposed a 90% emissions reduction target, allowing up to 3% in carbon credits, to bridge the EU’s legally binding goals of cutting emissions by 55% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.
"We are also postponing ETS2 by one year, and we're adopting measures on the ETS2 implementation framework to smooth on the launch of it," Hoekstra added.
The climate target is not yet final and will need approval from the European Parliament before it comes into effect.
By Melike Pala in Brussels
Anadolu Agency
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