Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002269/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Nikolas Farantouris (The Left)
In February 2024, the Commission announced a 90 % reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels as the recommended target for 2040 to ensure that the EU reaches climate neutrality by 2050[1]. This recommended target was based on a detailed Commission impact assessment[2] and a proposal from the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change, which proposed that the target should be 90-95 %[3]. However, the legislative proposal to include the target in the European Climate Law[4] has been significantly delayed and is now expected on 2 July 2025. At the same time, it seems that the Commission will propose flexibilities that undermine climate efforts and the achievement of EU climate neutrality[5] (notably the possibility to use international carbon credits instead of implementing domestic action[6]), which is strongly criticised by the Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change[7].
In view of this, can the Commission say:
- 1.Will it present its proposal on 2 July 2025?
- 2.Does it intend to propose flexibilities and, if so, which ones?
- 3.Will the Commission’s proposal be accompanied by an analytical and detailed impact assessment demonstrating its full compatibility with the climate-neutrality objective, but also comparing that proposal’s expected results with the results of a proposal based on domestic action rather than on the use of international carbon credits?
Submitted: 5.6.2025
- [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2024%3A63%3AFIN, https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/climate-strategies-targets/2040-climate-target_en.
- [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52024SC0063
- [3] https://climate-advisory-board.europa.eu/reports-and-publications/scientific-advice-for-the-determination-of-an-eu-wide-2040
- [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R1119.
- [5] https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-2040-climate-target-with-carbon-credits-expected-in-july-diplomats-say/
- [6] Carbon credits allow one country to finance emission reduction projects in another (usually a poorer, developing country) and subtract those CO2 emission reductions from its own carbon balance.
- [7] https://climate-advisory-board.europa.eu/reports-and-publications/scientific-advice-for-amending-the-european-climate-law-setting-climate-goals-to-strengthen-eu-strategic-priorities