EU Parliament backs 2040 climate goal of 90 percent reduction

The EU took another step on Thursday towards setting a 2040 climate goal of a 90 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

This happened when the European Parliament adopted its position on the EU’s 2040 climate goal through a vote.

Unless changes are made, it closely aligns with the positions of EU countries regarding a 2040 climate goal of a 90 percent reduction with room for the use of international climate credits.

This pleases the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who represents the EU at the climate conference COP30.

– While the crucial COP30 conference takes place in Belém, Europe shows that climate action and competitiveness go hand in hand.

– The Parliament’s vote on our proposal to reduce CO2 emissions by 90 percent by 2040 is a very welcome development. And an important step on our path to climate neutrality by 2050, von der Leyen writes on X.

The Greens in the European Parliament would have preferred a more ambitious 2040 goal. But it was important that Thursday’s vote resulted in a no to the right-wing’s attempt to halt the 2040 goal, says SF’s member of the European Parliament, Rasmus Nordqvist.

– It is sad that the member states have amputated Europe’s climate ambitions. But now it is more important that we get a climate goal in place than that the right-wing in the European Parliament gets the opportunity to completely break it apart, says Rasmus Nordqvist.

SF has, as part of the political group The Greens, been skeptical about the use of international climate credits to secure part of the reductions in greenhouse gases.

Climate credits are investments in projects in third countries that reduce CO2 emissions.

This can make it cheaper to reduce emissions. However, the credits have previously been criticized by climate organizations for being unreliable.

– One should not be able to pay their way out of climate action. Therefore, it is good that the climate credits do not just become an easy exercise for the member states.

– We hope that more countries will invest in Europe and not just send billions out of Europe to avoid climate action, says Rasmus Nordqvist.

For businesses, the vote means increased security for future investments, believes DI’s climate chief, Anne Højer Simonsen.

– It is truly gratifying that the parliament has voted for the climate goal of 90 percent.

– It creates predictability and sends a clear signal to the entire European business community to invest even greener in the future, says Anne Højer Simonsen.

The Danish EU presidency can take part of the credit for the gathering support for the 2040 goal, believes the Deputy Director of Dansk Erhverv, Ulrich Bang.

– It has been difficult negotiations and great praise to the Danish EU presidency for having landed an agreement.

– We must not give up on the transition. It also holds the answer to how Europe can free itself from dependence on imported energy, strengthen supply security, and ensure more competitive energy prices for the benefit of both businesses and consumers, says Ulrich Bang.