On July 2, during a meeting with representatives of EU countries, the European Commission will propose a new EU climate target for 2040.
Reuters reports this, citing its own sources among the bloc's diplomats. According to them, European Union Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra confirmed this date during a closed-door meeting on May 28 with EU representatives.
The new target will allow flexibility in how countries will achieve it, as Brussels tries to counter growing criticism of Europe's environmental goals. Reuters sources say that the proposal to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% from 1990 levels by 2040 will remain in place.
According to the diplomats, these flexibilities include setting the emissions reduction target for national industries at a level below 90% and allowing countries to buy international carbon credits to offset the remaining emissions to reach 90%.
The European Commission is also considering relaxing the requirements for countries to reduce emissions in certain sectors. This will allow them to decide for themselves in which sectors it is most convenient to focus efforts to achieve the climate goal, diplomats explain.
What moods prevail in the EU regarding the new climate goal
As a reminder, the European Commission has promised not to weaken Europe's ambitious climate goals, despite growing criticism from governments and lawmakers concerned about the costs to European businesses. EU industrialists are now struggling with high energy prices and the threat of looming tariffs from the United States.
The European Commission has postponed its 2040 climate proposal for several months and has weakened other “green” laws in recent months in an effort to calm political opposition.
EU countries are divided on the 2040 target. Finland, the Netherlands, and Denmark are among those who support a 90% reduction in emissions. Opponents include Italy and the Czech Republic.
Germany supported the 90% target if countries can use international carbon credits to achieve three percentage points of the goal.
As a reminder, in March, EcoPolitics wrote that the EU was in the midst of a heated debate over a new climate target. We also reported that the new Austrian government is unwilling to accept the European Commission's recommendation to reduce emissions by 90% by 2040.
