Eleven EU states called on the European Commission to set ambitious climate targets for 2040. Austria, Germany, France, Spain and seven other countries called on the European Commission in a letter to send “a strong political signal that sets an example for other high-emission countries of greenhouse gases”. The common climate target for 2040 must also “ensure that the entire EU is on track towards climate neutrality”.
The EU has already committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, compared to 1990, and wants to be climate neutral by 2050. The milestone for 2040 is still missing. EU environment ministers discussed this issue for the first time in mid-January.
The European Commission wants to comment on several scenarios for 2040 on February 6th. However, only one concrete proposal is expected from the new Commission, which will be formed after the European elections in early June. In October, European Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra called for reducing emissions by “at least 90 percent” by 2040, compared with 1990. The European Commission's scientific advisory board recommends a CO2 reduction of 90 to 95 Percent.
The letter, signed by the climate and environment ministers of the eleven countries, now “strongly” calls on the European Commission to “recommend an ambitious climate target for 2040”. In addition to Germany, France and Spain, Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal also signed.
Taking into account public concerns, most recently evident in farmer protests, the eleven EU states called for a “fair and equitable” process of change. The energy transition must be “economically viable” and must “cause only manageable costs” and no one must be left behind. At the same time, it must be possible to reinforce “energy security and industrial competitiveness”.