EU clinches deal to cut emissions by 90% by 2040

EU environment ministers have reached a provisional agreement on a 2040 climate target after all-night talks in Brussels.

Ministers have agreed to set a goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions across the bloc by 90% by 2040 compared with 1990 levels.

It is understood the deal also includes an intermediate target for 2035 of a 66.25% to 72.5% reduction.

The deal is set to be presented at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil.

Offsets

The agreement allows member states to use international carbon offsets to meet up to 5% of their emissions-cutting obligations starting in 2036.

While EU officials say the deal ensures the bloc arrives at COP30 with a clear commitment, environmental groups such as World Wildlife Fund (WWF) criticised the compromise as weak and reliant on offsets that rarely deliver real emissions reductions.

It warned that loopholes and delayed measures, such as postponing the expansion of emissions trading and the phase-out of free allowances, could reduce the actual impact to less than 85%, undermining the EU’s leadership on climate action.

“Member states are claiming they have agreed on a 90% target, but that’s just sleight of hand. Once you strip off the offsets and the potential emergency break for carbon sinks, the real figure will be lower than 85%. The EU should lead by example, not by loophole,” said climate policy officer at WWF EU Michael Sicaud-Clyet.