EU countries reach agreement: 90% emissions reduction by 2040

After more than 18 hours of negotiations, European environment ministers have reached an agreement on the new climate target for 2040. European Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra's proposal—a 90 percent reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to 1990—remains in place, but has been watered down with exceptions and postponements. The agreement had to be reached before next week's climate summit in Brazil, but the interim target for 2035 is still unclear.

CO₂ credits

From 2036, member states will be allowed to ‘purchase’ up to 5% of their emission reductions abroad through CO₂ credits. Later, another 5% can be achieved through this system. This would leave an 80% reduction in emissions on European territory by 2040. Scientists call this a weakening that makes the policy “less credible.”

Domestic measures are also being delayed. For example, the CO₂ tax on gasoline and natural gas is being postponed until 2028, and sustainable fuels will play a greater role after 2035, when the sale of gasoline cars will stop — a wish of the German automotive industry.

Negotiations were difficult

The negotiations were difficult. Eastern European countries, supported by Germany and France, among others, asked for more “flexibility,” while the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden insisted on ambition.

Meanwhile, the EU remains the global leader in CO₂ reduction, although new UN figures show that the world is still heading for 2.3 to 2.8 degrees of warming — well above the Paris targets.