{"id":118315,"date":"2025-07-02T13:43:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T11:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/?p=118315"},"modified":"2025-07-02T13:43:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T11:43:00","slug":"eu-2040-target-holds-line-on-climate-but-loopholes-threaten-integrity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/it\/eu-2040-target-holds-line-on-climate-but-loopholes-threaten-integrity\/","title":{"rendered":"EU 2040 target holds line on climate, but loopholes threaten integrity"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>In the middle of a record-breaking heatwave, the European Commission released today its long-anticipated 2040 climate target.<\/p>\n<p>Following months of delays and political wrangling, the EU appears to stay the course toward climate neutrality, with a proposed net 90% emissions reduction target by 2040. However, the \u2018flexibilities\u2019 in how to achieve this goal risk resulting in zero-sum games, warns the European Environmental Bureau (EEB).\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>The EEB is Europe&#8217;s largest network of environmental NGOs.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Despite\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/climate-advisory-board.europa.eu\/news\/staying-the-course-on-climate-action-essential-to-eu-security-and-competitiveness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">calls<\/a>\u00a0from its own scientific advisers for a domestic-only climate target,\u00a0the Commission proposes allowing EU countries to meet part of the 2040 goal through carbon offsets abroad &#8211; undermining climate credibility.<\/p>\n<p>This controversial shift not only weakens the European Climate Law but also delays urgent action and vital investments in clean technologies within Europe.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mathieu Mal,\u00a0<\/strong>Policy Officer for Agriculture and Climate at the EEB, said:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cThe climate crisis doesn\u2019t wait, and it certainly doesn\u2019t care for accounting tricks. These so-called \u2018flexibilities\u2019 are just loopholes to delay real action. We know that the sooner we cut emissions, the greater the benefits and the lesser the damages. When faced with war or a virus, policymakers act fast, and funding becomes available. Why not for climate? We face a climate, nature, and pollution emergency, and we need our leaders to act like it. Time is of the essence.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>A target wrapped in caveats\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Commission\u2019s plan includes:<\/p>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"3\"><strong>International carbon credits:\u00a0<\/strong>From 2036, EU countries may count climate projects abroad towards their 2040 target \u2013 a move that amounts to outsourcing EU responsibility, with a high risk of fraud and unverifiable emissions cuts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"3\"><strong>Sectoral flexibilities:\u00a0<\/strong>Countries can shift their efforts between sectors, allowing further delays in lagging areas like agriculture or transport.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"3\"><strong>A single net target:<\/strong>\u00a0The 90% reduction is expressed only as a net figure \u2013 failing to distinguish between actual emissions cuts and carbon removals, which are not equivalent.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This bundling of removals and reductions, combined with overseas offsets, creates a dangerous lack of transparency. It threatens to derail the EU\u2019s commitment to reach net-zero emissions domestically by 2050 and violates the principle of doing our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/caneurope.org\/pac-scenario-climate-neutrality\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fair share<\/a>\u00a0under the Paris Agreement.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NGOs call for stronger, clearer targets\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To restore climate integrity and drive real progress, the EEB urges the European Parliament and Member States to push for:<\/p>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"4\"><strong>Three separate targets:\u00a0<\/strong>for gross emissions cuts, industrial removals, and nature-based sequestration \u2013 ensuring clarity and transparency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"4\"><strong>No offsets:<\/strong>\u00a0Climate neutrality must be achieved through domestic action. Supporting third countries in cutting emissions is important, but it should be additional to Europe\u2019s own decarbonisation efforts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"4\"><strong>A just and nature-compatible policy package:<\/strong>\u00a0to ensure fairness across sectors and align climate efforts with social and environmental priorities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>ENDS<\/p>\n<p><u>Notes for editors\u00a0<\/u><\/p>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-font=\"Aptos\" data-leveltext=\"-\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Aptos&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"5\"><em>Energy scenarios show that the EU has both the means and the tools to\u00a0<strong>achieve climate neutrality by 2040<\/strong>. It is not only technically feasible, but also a wise investment. If Europe had increased decarbonisation efforts a decade ago, it could have unlocked at least \u20ac1 trillion in direct benefits by 2030. The faster fossil fuels are phased out, the more energy security and economic gains Europe stands to achieve. See the technical summary by CAN Europe and the EEB:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pac-scenarios.eu\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/PAC_scenario_technical_summary_29jun20.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Building a Paris Agreement Compatible (PAC) energy scenario<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the middle of a record-breaking heatwave, the European Commission released today its long-anticipated 2040 climate target. Following months of delays and political wrangling, the EU<span class=\"excerpt-hellip\"> [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":118316,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[121,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-118315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-climate-energy","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/META-featured-image-right-size-9.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118315"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118315\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}