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EU aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared with 1990 levels.
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Disagreements among member states threaten a deal before COP30 in Brazil.
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France demands flexibility if EU forests absorb less CO₂ than expected.
Last attempt to agree on 2040 target
On Tuesday, European Union climate ministers will make one last attempt to adopt a new climate target to avoid going to the COP30 summit in Belem, Brazil, without a common position. Failure to agree could undermine the EU’s image as a global leader in the fight against global warming, especially in the context of US President Donald Trump’s opposition to ambitious climate action.
The European Commission’s blueprint calls for a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, maintaining a course towards climate neutrality by 2050. However, some countries, including Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic, warn that such stringent commitments threaten an industry struggling with high energy costs and competition from China and the US.
Divisions among member states and the struggle for compromise
Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands, on the other hand, insist on ambitious targets, pointing to increasing extreme weather events and the need for China to catch up in green energy technologies. France demanded the addition of a clause allowing the target to be relaxed if European forests absorb too little CO₂.
To win a majority, Brussels is considering additional concessions, including price controls in the new emissions market and weakening the ban on the sale of internal combustion engines after 2035, as demanded by Germany. The share of foreign carbon credits also remains a contentious issue – France wants them to account for 5% of the total reduction, against the 3% proposed by the Commission.
The decision requires the support of at least 15 of the 27 EU countries, and diplomats warn that the vote will be extremely close. Ministers are expected to first adopt a 2040 target and then, based on that, set a commitment for 2035, which will be reported to the UN ahead of the COP30 summit.
