In the midst of an extreme heatwave affecting several regions of the continent, the European Commission confirmed on Wednesday, July 2, its commitment to reduce greenhoapply gas emissions by 90% by 2040, in relation to 1990 levels.
The decision, presented within its roadmap towards carbon neutrality by 2050, includes flexibility claapplys aimed at containing resistance from member states less inclined to create adjustments.
The announcement comes in an increasingly challenging political and climatic context, with visible impacts of the environmental crisis and deep tensions on how to distribute the decarbonization effort within the block.
A key interim goal on the road to 2050: reducing emissions
The 90% reduction tarreceive by 2040 is considered a crucial step towards climate neutrality by mid-century, as established by the commitments of the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement. To achieve this, the Commission projects profound transformations in:
– Mobility, through the widespread apply of electric vehicles
– Energy matrix, with the progressive elimination of fossil fuels
– Building sector, through efficiency-oriented reforms
External carbon credits: a point of friction
One of the most debated novelties of the plan is the possibility, starting in 2036, for member countries to account for up to 3% of external carbon credits in their reduction tarreceives, acquired through mitigation projects in third countries.
The European Commissioner for Climate, Wopke Hoekstra, acknowledged that this claapply seeks to introduce “pragmatism” into a “politically sensitive” discussion without undermining the overall objective.
This flexibilization aims to gain support from reluctant governments but has sparked strong criticism from environmental organizations, questioning the apply of off-EU territory compensations as a way to meet climate goals.
Tension between ambition and political realism
The debate reflects the tension between the global climate leadership that the EU promotes and the internal dynamics that hinder its effective implementation. For some observers, opening the door to external credits could weaken the integrity of the goal if not accompanied by strict controls and robust national policies.
As the climate crisis intensifies, with record temperatures, extreme events, and economic pressures, the challenge for the EU will be to maintain its ambition without fracturing the bloc’s unity or diluting the coherence of its compliance mechanisms.
Cover photo: Petr David Josek/AP
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