2040 climate target

In March 2026, the EU adopted an amendment to the European Climate Law to set an EU climate target for 2040, as set out in the Commission Political Guidelines for 2024-2029. Specifically, the EU has a legally binding headline emission reduction target of 90% by 2040 relative to 1990, with a domestic target of 85% and up to 5% of international carbon credits. 

The 2040 climate target reaffirms the EU’s determination to tackle climate change and will shape our path after 2030, to ensure the EU reaches climate neutrality by 2050. The climate neutrality objective is at the heart of the European Green Deal, and is a legally binding objective set out in the Climate Law. 

Our 2030 climate target is to reduce net GHG emissions by at least 55% relative to 1990. The 2040 target builds on this target and sets out a pragmatic and flexible pathway towards a decarbonised European economy by 2050. 

The 2040 climate target takes full account of the current economic, security and geopolitical landscape in alignment with the EU Competitiveness Compass, Clean Industrial Deal and Affordable Energy Action Plan. It provides the necessary predictability and stability for investments in the EU's clean energy transition and for driving industrial competitiveness. 

Text version

Reducing our net emissions by 90% by 2040 will: 

• put us on course towards climate neutrality by 2050, building a healthier and safer future for Europeans
• ensure predictability for citizens, businesses and investors, by making sure that resources invested now and in the upcoming decades are compatible with the EU’s pathway to climate neutrality, avoiding wasted investments in the fossil fuel economy
• boost the competitiveness of Europe’s businesses, create stable and future-proof jobs, and enable the EU to lead in developing the clean technology markets of the future
• make Europe more resilient and strengthen its strategic autonomy 

The proposal introduces the possibility to use flexibilities in how the targets can be met and supports the creation of the right enabling environment. These new flexibilities include a possible limited role for high-quality international carbon credits in the second part of 2030-2040, the use of domestic permanent removals in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and enhanced flexibilities across sectors. The Commission will ensure that these flexibilities are reflected in designing the post-2030 sectoral legislation needed to achieve the 2040 climate target in a cost-effective way and ensuring a just and socially fair transition for all. 

The EU’s 2040 target was adopted following a substantial period of consultation and engagement with EU countries, the European Parliament, stakeholders, civil society and citizens, initiated with the Commission Communication and recommendation on the 2040 climate target in February 2024. This was informed by a public consultation which took place from 31 March to 23 June 2023, in which we invited citizens and stakeholders to share their views on the EU’s climate target for 2040. The 2040 climate target proposal is based on the Commission’s detailed impact assessment and the advice of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change. 

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