JOINT CALL FOR AN AMBITIOUS EU 2040 CLIMATE TARGET
The need for ambitious global climate action has never been more evident. 2023 proved to be the warmest
year on record. Global warming is set to intensify a number of adverse effects putting the welfare and
security of the world at risk.
At its meeting on 14.-15. December 2023, the European Council welcomed the conclusions from the first
Global Stocktake concluded at COP28 in particular the agreement to accelerate emission reductions
towards net zero by 2050 in line with the best available science, to keep the 1.5 °C objective within reach.
It is crucial that the EU translates this into concrete ambitious action to send a strong political signal that
the EU will lead by example to convince other large emitters to follow suit to ensure the necessary
contributions to keep 1.5 °C alive in a timely manner before COP30.
However, we can only persuade others to step up if we get the job done at home. Therefore, we strongly
encourage the European Commission in its upcoming communication to recommend an ambitious EU
climate target for 2040. At the same time, we must ensure a proper implementation of the “Fit for 55”
legislative package. This is important for the EU’s credibility at international level as well as the
acceptability of increasing the effort.
The target should be in line with the long-term temperature goal of 1.5 °C and take into account the
principles in the European Climate Law, such as best available science, cost-effectiveness, a fair and just
transition and the costs of inaction, as well as the advice of the European Scientific Advisory Board on
Climate Change.
The target should also ensure that the EU is fully on track to climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest aiming
to achieve negative emissions thereafter. The Commission’s communication should enable the EU to
communicate an NDC with a 2035 ambition to follow up on the decision at COP 26 on the five- year
timeframes for National Determined Contributions. An ambitious target will also contribute to the phasing
out of fossil fuels.
Along with an efficient and sustained effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors, which
remains the key lever for achieving our climate targets, removals will also be needed to reach climate
neutrality.
Stepping up ambition will be a considerable task. To lead the way we need to ensure that climate action is
an opportunity for all. The green transition should thus continue to be economically feasible, costs
manageable and leave no one behind especially the most vulnerable citizens.
Ambitious climate action will allow to benefit from synergies between these policies and other
environmental priorities as well as reduce future climate impacts, particularly on the most vulnerable.
Therefore, supporting the green transition and tackling distributional effects must be an important priority.
Meeting our climate goals in a cost-effective way is essential to economic growth, energy security and
increasing the EU’s industrial competitiveness. It will be key to safeguard the EU’s resilience, fully reap the
benefits of the green transition through rules-based trade and strengthen the EU’s open strategic
autonomy as well as providing us with a competitive advantage on a global scale.
It will send a strong signal to the market to increase the EU´s domestic development and manufacturing of
net-zero technologies paving the way of increasing EUs competitiveness as well as making the EU the most