EU Commission Recommendations for 2040 Targets to Reach Climate Neutrality By 2050  

The Commission is charting the path to reach the goal of making the European Union climate-neutral by 2050. It recommends a 90% net greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, which is in line with recent scientific advice and the EU’s commitments under the Paris Agreement. 

The following actions will be needed to achieve the 90% reduction target by 2040: 

• fully implement existing EU laws to reduce emissions by at least 55% by 2030 
• decarbonise the industry by relying on existing strengths like wind power, hydropower, and electrolysers. To step up this work strand, the Commission has put forward new measures to manage carbon emissions by industry in the EU that will see investment in technologies that can capture and store carbon, and re-use it 
• increase domestic manufacturing in growth sectors like batteries, electric vehicles, heat pumps, solar cells and others 
• keep fairness, solidarity and social policies at the core of the transition, helping vulnerable citizens, regions, businesses and workers through tools such as the Social Climate Fund and Just Transition Fund 
• have an open dialogue with all concerned, including farmers, businesses, social partners and citizens 

For more information  on how the commission plans to achieve this change please see the article here.