EU agrees new weakened climate target ahead of COP

EU climate ministers agreed on a 2040 climate change target in the early hours of Wednesday after watering down the goal in last-minute negotiations, the day before the U.N. COP30 summit begins in Brazil.

After negotiating late into Tuesday night, climate ministers from European Union countries approved in a public vote a compromise to cut emissions 90 percent from 1990 levels by 2040, but with flexibilities to weaken this aim.

The weakened target would let countries buy foreign carbon credits to cover up to 5 percent of the 90 percent emissions-cutting goal. That would effectively weaken to 85 percent the emissions cuts required from European industries, and pay foreign countries to cut emissions on Europe's behalf to make up the rest.

The EU also agreed to consider the option, in future, to use international carbon credits to meet a further 5 percent of the 2040 emissions reductions - potentially shaving another 5 percent off the domestic target.

Additionally, countries agreed a 2035 target to cut emissions in a range of between 66.25 and 72.5 percent. The UN asked all governments worldwide to submit 2035 climate plans before the COP30 climate summit opens.

Backlash

"Setting a climate target is not just picking a number, it is a political decision with far-reaching consequences for the continent," said Danish climate minister Lars Aagaard.

"Therefore, we have also worked to provide comfort that it can be reached in a way that preserves competitiveness, social balance and security."

In a further effort to win over sceptical countries, the EU also agreed to weaken other politically sensitive climate policies - including by delaying the launch of an upcoming EU carbon market by one year, to 2028.

A handful of countries including Poland, Slovakia and Hungary continued to oppose the 2040 climate target on the grounds it would hit industries' competitiveness. Their opposition was not enough to block the agreement, which needed backing from at least 15 of 27 member states.

The deal meant the EU will not go empty-handed to COP30, where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet other world leaders on November 6.

The COP30 talks will test the will of major economies to keep fighting climate change in the face of opposition from U.S. President Donald Trump. The EU has prided itself on leading international efforts to curb climate change at past COPs.

But the dilution of the target reflects a backlash against Europe's ambitious climate agenda, from industries and some governments sceptical that it can afford the measures alongside defence and industrial priorities.

Flexibility demands

The European Commission had originally proposed a 90 percent emissions-cutting target, with a maximum 3 percent share of carbon credits. The target was designed to keep the EU on track between its legally-binding goals to cut net emissions by 55 percent by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2050.

The EU's independent climate science advisers said a 90 percent domestic goal would have been in line with science. But they had advised against buying foreign CO2 credits, believing this would divert much-needed investments away from European industries.

Countries including France and Portugal had demanded the 5 percent carbon credits flexibility, while others including Poland and Italy sought 10 percent. Spain and the Netherlands were among those opposed to softening the target further, according to EU diplomats.