The window of opportunity to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change is closing quickly. As temperatures in Europe are already reaching 2.1°C above pre-industrial levels, climate change impacts such as heat waves, droughts, floodings, and forest fires are already severely impacting communities across Europe and around the world. These climate impacts influence not only the environment and biodiversity loss, but people’s lives and livelihoods, particularly the most vulnerable.

The European Green Deal is the EU’s comprehensive strategy to address climate change, protect the environment and foster economic growth with the ultimate objective to be the first continent to reach climate neutrality by 2050. Under the EU Green Deal, 2030 climate targets were introduced with the objective to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% (compared to 1990). Following these targets, in February 2024, the European Commission proposed the next stage in this process: a target of 90% net GHG reduction by 2040 (compared to 1990) in order to meet climate neutrality by 2050 and keep the global temperature rise below 1.5 °C.

Following the EU Elections in June 2024, this latest climate policy lays the groundwork for the upcoming legislative period in the EU and given that 75% of the EU population lives in urban centres, it is particularly important that this legislation is developed and implemented in cities and regions in a way that reflects the realities on the ground.

While presenting the Commission’s 2040 climate target proposal to the European Parliament, Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra emphasised the need for a whole of society approach to reach an ambitious target, noting: “Today is in fact the start of the dialogue with citizens, with businesses, with trade unions, with members of parliament here, but also at a national and at a local level.”

ICLEI Europe supports the Commission’s science-based proposal of at least 90% emission reductions by 2040, yet advocates for strong enabling conditions to accompany the target in order to better reflect the realities in cities and regions.

Recommendations to strengthen the 2040 targets

In a recently published position paper, ICLEI outlines a series of recommendations to improve the Commission's proposal that would ensure that a coherent 2040 climate target can be implemented by European cities and regions in a holistic, inclusive, and well-funded manner.

In order to improve the proposed 2040 climate target, ICLEI Europe proposes to include:

• Sectoral targets for sustainable food systems and agriculture.
• Clear messaging on the need to swiftly phase out fossil fuels to accelerate the transition to renewable energy.
• A separate carbon removal target with sub-targets for nature-based and industrial carbon removals.

Additionally, ICLEI Europe advocates for including the following elements to the existing building blocks of the 2040 climate target proposal. This would ensure a coherent target that can be implemented on the ground by European cities and regions through the following strategies:

• The 2040 target setting and the development of its relevant policy framework requires dialogue among all levels of government.
• The legislation needs to better reflect the role of local governments in the EU’s energy transition, as well as to recognise the concept of sufficiency.
• A holistic approach is needed between local, regional and Member States to decarbonise transport and shift towards more sustainable forms of mobility.
• The EU needs a holistic mitigation, adaptation and carbon removal strategy across sectors.
• The EU should embrace a broader concept of Just Transition that addresses societal transition and goes beyond the energy sector, enhances local capacities and skills, and invests in infrastructure.
• The EU Industrial Deal, necessary to implement the 2040 climate targets, needs to put a focus on cities.
• Significant private and public funds are required to respond to local climate investment plans.
• The role of local governments’ cultural actions to create behavioural change recognise and increase the acceptance of climate policies should be recognised.

These recommendations address the realities in cities and regions and would allow local governments to accelerate their climate action. Wolfgang Teubner, Regional Director of ICLEI Europe notes: “The 2040 climate target will serve as a crucial milestone on our journey to climate neutrality by 2050, providing cities with the clear direction and long-term framework they need to continue leading this transformation. As we work together towards achieving the ambitious goals of the EU Green Deal, the importance of establishing a robust 2040 climate target cannot be overstated. European cities are at the forefront of the fight against climate change, implementing innovative solutions that not only contribute to reducing emissions but also enhance the quality of life for their residents.”

As EU leaders are expected to discuss and agree on the 2040 climate target in a timely manner, ICLEI Europe and our members stand ready to collaborate with the European Council, Commission, and Parliament to establish and advance the implementation of an ambitious, science-based 2040 climate target that will benefit all across European cities and regions.

Read the position paper in full here.