EU 2040 climate targets proposed on Wednesday

The European Commission is expected to present its legislative proposal on the new EU climate target for 2040 next Wednesday, 2 July.

The expectation is that a target of 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels will be proposed.

The EU's climate path is the one already traced and announced to want to reach zero emissions in 2050 and a 55% reduction by 2030: the one by 2040 would therefore be an intermediate target. The measure divides governments and there was a debate on the issue at the EU Summit last Thursday.

Paris calls for realism and technological neutrality, others like Denmark oppose postponements. The hypothesis is that the executive could foresee a mediation allowing international carbon credits to be counted in the targets, up to a maximum of 3%.