A statement from Jeroen Gerlag, Director of European Office at Climate Group, on the European Union's 2040 climate targets:
"The EU has made a perilous choice today. Building resilience and cutting emissions to keep the Paris Agreement alive should have been the path. While the EU keeps its 90% commitment on paper, in effect it'll be offshoring some of its emission reductions – making it someone else's problem. The deal lacks rigor, and it's a disappointing signal of leadership as we go into COP30 next week. This undermines the EU’s climate credibility.
Weak targets make for weaker investments. Businesses, states and regions will now need to step up to close the ambition gap – driving sectoral transformation and bold subnational transition plans.
While these targets fall short of the EU’s highest possible ambition, it doesn’t end in Belem. The EU can still chart a path toward a prosperous and liveable future for all.”