European Union ministers struggle to agree on new emissions targets for 2035 and 2040 as political divides deepen over economic impacts and environmental commitments.
The European Union’s member states have yet to finalize a deal on critical greenhouse-gas emission targets ahead of the upcoming United Nations COP30 Climate Summit in Brazil. According to officials in Brussels, ministers will reconvene on Wednesday to attempt a breakthrough.
Negotiations, which extended late into Tuesday night, center on two major goals: a 2035 emissions target required under the Paris Agreement, and a 2040 reduction target aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Denmark, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, expressed optimism that a compromise was close, while France warned that failure to reach an agreement before COP30 would spell “disaster” for the bloc’s credibility.
Behind only China, the United States, and India in emissions output, the EU has long positioned itself as a global climate leader. However, shifting political priorities and economic concerns have slowed progress.
Germany, Spain, and Nordic nations back the 2040 target, while Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Italy oppose it, citing risks to industrial competitiveness. France has also demanded protections for its nuclear energy sector.
Despite internal divisions, EU officials insist they remain committed to climate leadership, having mobilized €31.7 billion ($36.4 billion) in public climate finance in 2024.
Post a Comment