Brussels – After a night of haggling, the EU’s national environment ministers have proposed a climate target for 2040 that falls significantly short of even the minimum that the EU’s own scientific advisers have called, Greenpeace has warned. Ministers meeting in Brussels today settled on a headline goal of cutting the EU’s planet-heating emissions by 90% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. Ministers however allowed five percentage points of this 90% to be made up by emission cuts promised outside the EU, and governments would also be allowed to outsource a further five points of their own national targets.
The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change had called for emissions cuts of 90-95% by 2040, and had stressed that this target must be for domestic reductions to climate pollution, not cuts outsourced to other countries.
Environment ministers also agreed that the European Commission should reopen and water down the climate target in the case of high energy prices, a perceived negative economic impact or in light of technological advances. To reach a deal with reluctant countries, ministers also agreed to delay the start of the EU’s carbon market for pollution from cars and heating systems, extend pollution permits for heavy industry and exempt some ‘low-carbon’ fuels under the internal combustion engine phaseout.
Greenpeace EU climate campaigner Thomas Gelin said: “Cutting climate pollution by 90% was never enough for the EU to make a fair contribution to global climate action, but at least with an honest target the shortfall would be clear. The use of offshore carbon laundering to meet this nominal target means the EU’s own commitment is much lower, and that commitment means even less with a baked-in clause to dilute the target every two years. It’s like promising to run a marathon by only training 10km, taking the bus for the last kilometer of that, and reserving the right to just stay home if it rains. Warnings from scientists of climate tipping points, heatwave deaths, crop losses and economic chaos are becoming more dire – half-assing climate action is deeply irresponsible and will mean more people lose their lives, homes and livelihoods.”
The protracted discussions between the EU’s national governments also delayed until today the announcement of the EU’s interim climate target for 2035, the official target the EU is supposed to submit to the UN under the Paris climate agreement. This meant the EU was too late to contribute this target in time for a UN analysis of global climate action promises ahead of this year’s climate summit, COP30, starting in Belém, Brazil on Monday 10 November. Ministers failed to agree a firm 2035 target, instead keeping a previously agreed range of 66.25% to 72.5% emission cuts, even the upper end of which is inconsistent with a credible pathway to the proposed 90% cut for five years later, undermining the EU’s position as a climate leader at COP30, Greenpeace warned.
Next steps
The European Parliament’s environment committee is due to vote on its own proposal for the EU’s climate targets next week, led by an MEP from the far right who initially tried to torpedo the target entirely. The Parliament’s plenary session will then have to approve this proposal before three-way negotiations between the Parliament, European Commission and national governments can begin.
The EU’s environment ministers meet again on 16 December, so could finalise the negotiated targets then.
Contacts:
Thomas Gelin, Greenpeace EU campaigner: +32 473 57 04 46, [email protected]
Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 2 274 1911, [email protected]
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Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. We do not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties. Greenpeace has over three million supporters, and 26 independent national and regional organisations with offices in more than 55 countries.
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