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Climate Action

2040 climate target

Reducing the EU's net emissions by 90% by 2040

In July 2025, the Commission proposed an amendment to the European Climate Law to set an EU climate target for 2040. We recommended reducing the EU’s net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90% by 2040, relative to 1990, as set out in the Commission Political Guidelines for 2024-2029.

The 2040 climate target will reaffirm the EU’s determination to tackle climate change and will shape our path after 2030, to ensure the EU reaches climate neutrality by 2050. The climate neutrality objective is at the heart of the European Green Deal, and is a legally binding objective set out in the Climate Law.

Our 2030 climate target is to reduce net GHG emissions by at least 55% relative to 1990. The 2040 proposal builds on this target and sets out a pragmatic and flexible pathway towards a decarbonised European economy by 2050.

The proposed 2040 climate target takes full account of the current economic, security and geopolitical landscape in alignment with the EU Competitiveness Compass, Clean Industrial Deal and Affordable Energy Action Plan. It provides the necessary predictability and stability for investments in the EU's clean energy transition and for driving industrial competitiveness.

Greenhouse gas emissions in the period 2015-2050

Reducing our net emissions by 90% by 2040 will:

  • put us on course towards climate neutrality by 2050, building a healthier and safer future for Europeans
  • ensure predictability for citizens, businesses and investors, by making sure that resources invested now and in the upcoming decades are compatible with the EU’s pathway to climate neutrality, avoiding wasted investments in the fossil fuel economy
  • boost the competitiveness of Europe’s businesses, create stable and future-proof jobs, and enable the EU to lead in developing the clean technology markets of the future
  • make Europe more resilient and strengthen its strategic autonomy

The proposal introduces the possibility to use flexibilities in how the targets can be met and supports the creation of the right enabling environment. These new flexibilities include a possible limited role for high-quality international carbon credits in the second part of 2030-2040, the use of domestic permanent removals in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and enhanced flexibilities across sectors. The Commission will ensure that these flexibilities are reflected in designing the post-2030 sectoral legislation needed to achieve the 2040 climate target in a cost-effective way and ensuring a just and socially fair transition for all.

The Commission’s legal proposal follows a substantial period of consultation and engagement with EU countries, the European Parliament, stakeholders, civil society and citizens, initiated with the Commission Communication and recommendation on the 2040 climate target in February 2024. This was informed by a public consultation which took place from 31 March to 23 June 2023, in which we invited citizens and stakeholders to share their views on the EU’s climate target for 2040. The 2040 climate target proposal is based on the Commission’s detailed impact assessment and the advice of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change.

Next steps

The Commission’s 2040 EU climate target proposal has been submitted to the European Parliament and the Council for discussion and adoption under the ordinary legislative procedure.

At the international level, the EU is required to submit an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 30) taking place in November 2025 in Brazil. The Commission will now work with the Council Presidency to finalise the communication of the EU's NDC.

Documentation

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