EU agrees on climate target 2040: Are we ready for change?

EU agrees on climate target 2040: Are we ready for change?

The discussion about climate protection in the European Union is entering the next round. On November 6, 2025, the EU states agreed on a new climate target for 2040, which will form the basis for future efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This target envisages reducing emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, although up to 5 percentage points can be counted through the purchase of climate credits in third countries by 2031, meaning that the effective reduction in EU emissions would be 85 percent. The foundation for this agreement was laid just before the major global climate conference starting on November 10 in Brazil, and so the EU is under pressure to clearly define and advance its goals. Nachrichtenleicht reports that the EU Commission initially called for stricter measures, but these were met with resistance.

A central element of the agreement is the postponed new rules for buildings and traffic, which will be postponed by a year. In addition, the EU countries should not be obliged to achieve the full 90 percent themselves. Instead, there is the possibility of financing climate protection projects abroad, which can include the installation of wind and solar energy systems as well as reforestation projects in countries such as Africa or Asia. However, environmentalists have raised concerns because such projects are not always considered environmentally friendly and can be difficult to verify. Industry in the EU, on the other hand, sees the new climate targets as a first step towards a balancing act between environmental protection and economic interests.

Challenges and reactions

The agreement was not reached lightly, with some EU countries expressing concerns about rising fuel and heating costs that the new climate targets could potentially bring about. This discussion led to a certain level of support for the agreement, but the view within the EU remains divided. Some countries, including the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden, are calling for more ambitious climate targets and pushing for more shares of climate credits from third countries to offset emissions. The negotiations have not yet been completed as the EU Parliament also has to comment on this climate target for 2040.

Emissions trading for the transport and building sectors will not start until 2028, which will give countries time to adapt to the new requirements. The decisions reflect a compromise that takes into account both the ecological and economic challenges that the EU member states are currently having to overcome. Given these developments, it remains to be seen whether the new target will have an impact or whether skepticism and demands for more ambitious measures will continue to prevail.

How the various actors within the EU will adapt to these new climate goals remains exciting. One thing is certain: the pressure on the member states and especially on German politicians to achieve ambitious climate targets by 2040 is enormous. Tagesschau summarizes that there will still be challenges with regard to the implementation and monitoring of the set goals while we all look at the results of the World Climate Conference in Brazil.