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EU environment ministers agreed on the Council’s position (‘general approach’) onthe amendment to the European climate law, which sets a binding target for the EU to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90% by 2040. The agreement is a key step in the EU’s path towards achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
Today, we have adopted a 90 percent climate target for 2040 with broad support from the member states. The target is rooted in science and at the same time, it combines our competitiveness and security. This is important for the future of Europe – and it shows that even in challenging times, we can stand united. The target sets a clear direction years ahead for our policies, industries and investments. With this in hand, we are ready to build a stronger, more competitive and secure EU.
Lars Aagaard, Denmark’s minister for climate, energy and utilities
The Council maintained the Commission’s proposal for a 2040 target to reduce GHG emissions by 90%, including a set of flexibilities, with some adjustments. The Council agreed that high-quality international credits could make a contribution of up to 5% towards the target as of 2036. They also agreed that permanent carbon removals should have a role within the EU ETS to compensate for hard-to-abate emissions, and on enhanced flexibility across and within sectors and instruments.
The Council’s general approach strengthens the provisions on competitiveness, social fairness and energy security, ensuring that the transition supports both European industry and citizens. Ministers also agreed on a reinforced review mechanism, including the possibility to revise the 2040 target in light of Commission’s review of a range of impacts, ranging from challenges and opportunities for competitiveness, energy prices, social impacts, and technological developments, as well as a biennial assessment of the implementation of the intermediate targets.
The agreement follows the strategic guidance of the European Council of 23 October 2025 and will serve as the Council’s position for negotiations with the European Parliament on the final text of the legislation.
EU nationally determined contribution to the UNFCCC
Ministers approved the EU’s post-2030 nationally determined contribution (NDC) for submission to the UNFCCC, the UN climate convention, covering the period up to 2035. The new NDC sets out an indicative 2035 target of 66,25-72,5% emissions reduction, based on the indicative linear trajectories from, on the one hand, the EU’s climate target for 2030 of 55% and 2050 and, on the other hand, the EU’s climate target for 2030 and the 2040 climate target from the just agreed position of the Council on the climate law.
With the adoption of EU’s NDC, we are sending a strong signal ahead of COP30 that we remain fully committed to keeping the goals of the Paris Agreement. It enables us to push for more global climate action, when we meet the rest of the world at COP30.
Lars Aagaard, Denmark’s minister for climate, energy and utilities
NDCs are an integral part of the Paris Agreement, which requires each party to the Paris Agreement to submit a new or updated NDC every five years. They set out the efforts made by each country to reduce national emissions and how they contribute to the fulfilment of the temperature target of the Paris Agreement. The EU submits a single NDC on behalf of the EU and its member states.
Under ‘other business’, Austria informed ministers about the urgent need for the postponement and substantive simplification of the EU deforestation regulation (EUDR).
