EU proposes 90% emissions cut by 2040 in landmark climate law update

This ambitious 2040 goal builds on the EU’s existing legally binding target of a 55 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 and is designed to steer the bloc towards its ultimate aim of climate neutrality by 2050.

The proposal is based on a comprehensive impact assessment and guided by scientific advice from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change, European Commission said in its latest report.

The target is closely aligned with the EU Competitiveness Compass, the Clean Industrial Deal, and the Affordable Energy Action Plan. These frameworks aim to ensure a just and economically viable green transition.

Public support remains strong, with 85 per cent of Europeans viewing climate change as a serious problem and 81 per cent backing the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goal, according to a recent survey by Eurobarometer.

In tandem with the legislative proposal, the commission has also released a communication outlining the initial measures delivered under the Clean Industrial Deal. This progress report will be crucial in shaping further action to meet the 2040 objective.

The proposal will now undergo the ordinary legislative procedure, requiring discussion and approval by the European Parliament and the Council. Once adopted, the 2040 target will become a key benchmark for post-2030 EU climate policy.

The EU Climate Law, which entered into force in July 2021, legally binds the Union to climate neutrality by mid-century, setting the foundation for Europe's long-term environmental and economic sustainability, added the report.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (SG)