In February 2024, the European Commission proposed an EU-wide 90% net emission reduction target by 2040, following the recommendation from the European Scientific Advisory Body on Climate Change (ESABCC) to set a 2040 climate target of 90- 95% emission reductions. While presenting the 2040 target in the European Parliament, Commissioner Hoekstra highlighted the need for a dialogue and an extensive outreach to discuss how to reach this crucial intermediary target of 2040.
We welcome the Commission’s proposal and highlight that the EU’s 2040 target should represent at least 90% emission reduction by 2040. In response to the Commissioner’s call for an extensive dialogue on how to reach the target, we highlight that a timely agreement on the target level would leave more time for the development of necessary legislative frameworks and for creating enabling conditions for all levels of governments, including local and regional governments, to implement the target in a coherent, inclusive, and holistic way.