EU climate target for 2040

Practical information

1. Composition of the Study group and timeline
2. Administrator / Assistant in charge: Judit CARRERAS GARCIA / Lukáš ĎURECH
3. Contact

Background

The EU Climate Law requires the European Commission to make a legislative proposal for a 2040 climate target before mid-2024. The non-legislative 2040 Climate target communication has been published on 6 February 2024.

On 31 March 2023, the European Commission launched a public consultation to gather input to the impact assessment under preparation to establish the EU's intermediary climate target for 2040, as required by the EU climate law. Most respondents (598 - 73%) proposed accelerating the EU's climate transition to 2040, with individuals showing even greater support (369 - 80%). The majority of organizations also backed an acceleration (229 - 64%), while fewer suggested maintaining the current pace (66 - 18%). Civil society organisations (84 - 91%) and academic/research institutions (17 - 85%) strongly favoured an acceleration, this tendency was less pronounced among SMEs (51 - 53%)  and large companies (60 - 48%).

On 15 June 2023, the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change, provided the EU institutions with a science-based estimate of a recommended 2040 climate target and an EU greenhouse gas emissions budget for the period 2030-2050. The Advisory board recommended net emissions reductions of 90-95% by 2040, relative to 1990 levels, and an overall 2030-2050 carbon budget within a limit of 11-14 Gt CO₂ equivalents, in line with limiting global warming to 1.5 °C. The advisory board was established as part of the EU Climate Law to provide scientific knowledge, expertise and advice relating to climate change. It consists of 15 independent senior scientific experts who evaluate policies and identify actions and opportunities to successfully achieve the EU’s climate targets.

The EESC will assess the 2040 Climate target communication and adopt an opinion.