Germany welcomes EU 2040 target deal "success" criticised as "very weak signal" ahead of COP30 by NGOs
German environment minister Carsten Schneider has welcomed a deal by EU member state governments on an emissions reduction target for 2040 as a “big success”. After a long night of difficult negotiations, the EU had proven that it is capable of acting on climate, said the minister at a press conference in Berlin.
EU member state governments agreed on a weakened 2040 target, compared to an earlier proposal by the Commission. Environment ministers approved a net emissions reduction target of 90 percent, from 1990 levels, but introduced elements that effectively weaken the goal. Buying carbon credits from climate action projects abroad, for example, could make up five percent of the target. The target would be re-assessed every two years "to track progress towards intermediate targets based on the latest scientific evidence, technological advances and the EU’s global competitiveness," said the EU Council. Based on the findings of the review, the EU could adjust the 2040 target "or other additional measures to strengthen the enabling framework, namely to secure the EU’s competitiveness, prosperity and social cohesion."
The deal has yet to be negotiated with the European Parliament.
As part of its international obligations under the UN, the member states also agreed on a climate target for 2035. This is part of the EU’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Climate Agreement. However, member states only set a range – emissions would be cut between 66.25 and 72.5 percent by that year.
As part of today's deal, countries also agreed to implement the new emissions trading system for transport and buildings, the ETS2, in 2028 – one year later than planned.
German industry with mixed reactions
The Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry welcomed the deal. It was good that countries did not decide on a strict 90-percent target. “To achieve such a target, Germany would have had to make its energy supply, industry, buildings and transport sectors climate-neutral within just 15 years,” said deputy managing director Achim Dercks. “This would have completely overwhelmed our economy.”
Industry association BDI said further steps to align climate action with economic competitiveness must follow the deal. It welcomed the planned use of international CO₂ compensation projects as "the right approach", arguing that it can create scope for ambitious climate protection while maintaining competitiveness. "At the same time, Europe needs investment in CO₂ capture technologies and cross-border infrastructure," it said.
Local utility association VKU welcomed that the 2040 target would be reviewed every two years, as this ensured that it would remain in line with real developments on the ground.
Energy industry association BDEW criticised that the potential contribution of offsets in other regions of the world has turned out to be bigger than initially planned. Projects in third countries should only be used as a last resort to secure climate targets ex post, so the details of the conditions for these projects now had to be carefully drafted.
A ”very weak signal” ahead of COP30 – NGOs
NGO Germanwatch criticised the deal for sending “a very weak signal” ahead of the UN climate conference in Belém, Brazil, next week. “This is a negotiation defeat for the climate,” said chief policy officer Christoph Bals. Allowing the EU to reach five percent of the 90 percent reduction target through climate action in other parts of the world – so far with unclear conditions to ensure the quality of those projects – was a loophole that “threatens to undermine the integrity of EU climate policy and ultimately also weakens the competitiveness of its own economy,” he added.
Environmental organisation Greenpeace Germany said the agreed target was not in line with what climate scientists have said is necessary to reach international climate targets. “The EU is heading to Belém with a weak climate target and ignoring the warnings of scientists,” said Sarah Zitterbarth. “With its 2035 climate target, the EU is falling well short of the recommendations of its own climate advisors.” The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change had recommended a target of 90-95 percent by 2040.
