EU: European Commission proposal for a 2040 climate target

On July 2, 2025, the European Commission (EC) published a legislative proposal for the EU's 2040 climate targets. The proposal aims to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. It sets a framework for achieving this EU-wide binding target. The 2040 targets are an intermediate step toward reaching the 2050 climate neutrality goal, as required by Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 on establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (European Climate Law). The EC formulated the proposal based on recommendations issued in February 2024, as explained in this news article.

According to the European Climate Law,