Brussels, July 2, 2025 — The European Commission presented a binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared to 1990 levels. This target is a key step towards achieving the European Union's climate neutrality by 2050 and demonstrates the EU's commitment to combating climate change.
The main focus of the new plan is not only high ambition but also the introduction of flexible mechanisms to support member states. From 2036, countries will be able to use international carbon credits – projects for forest restoration and other natural ecosystems – to cover up to 3% of their emission reduction obligations. This will reduce the financial and technical burden on countries, ensuring a more realistic achievement of the goals.
However, this practice has drawn criticism from environmental organizations, who fear that reliance on international credits could undermine domestic decarbonization efforts and create risks of fraud. At the same time, many countries emphasize the need for a balance between ambitious environmental goals and maintaining economic competitiveness.
The document also emphasizes the importance of fulfilling the EU's international obligations, including updating the nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. The 2040 target is designed to become a link between the 2030 and 2050 goals, ensuring a consistent and manageable transition to climate neutrality.