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EU apparently plans flexible climate target for 2040

EU Commission plans more flexibility for 2040 climate target - international CO₂ credits to be taken into account

04.06.2025

Source: E & M powernews

The European Commission apparently also wants international CO2 credits to count towards the 2040 climate target. According to Reuters, this is a quid pro quo.

The international certificates should reduce the pressure on EU member states to achieve the environmental targets. EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said this at a meeting with representatives of the EU countries, as the news agency Reuters learned from several diplomats. By giving the EU member states greater leeway in implementation, the Brussels authority wants to gain the approval of the EU countries for the target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 1990 levels. Until now, the international community's climate targets were to be achieved solely through its own measures.

The proposal planned for July 2 envisages providing the 90 percent target with leeway that could reduce the requirements for industry. This would include setting an emissions reduction target for industry that is below 90 percent.

In addition, there is the possibility that EU member states could buy international CO2 credits from climate projects abroad in order to reach 90 percent.

A spokesperson for the Commission declined to comment on the plans to Reuters. The EU Commission had promised not to weaken Europe's climate targets. However, criticism is growing in EU countries due to concerns about the costs for companies struggling with high energy prices and the threat of US tariffs.

According to Reuters, the Commission's proposal for more flexibility is in line with the German governing coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD. The latter has spoken out in favor of the 90 percent target, provided that countries can use international CO2 credits to achieve up to 3 percentage points of the target. The Commission has delayed its proposal for the 2040 climate program for months because the EU countries are in disagreement: Finland, the Netherlands and Denmark were among the supporters of the 90 percent target, while Italy and the Czech Republic were among the opponents.

Author: Stefan Rudolph