Brussels: European Union countries have postponed plans to approve a new climate change target next week due to resistance from key governments, including France and Germany, against swiftly finalizing a deal. This development was reported by three EU diplomats on Friday.
According to Emirates News Agency, discussions are ongoing regarding a legally-binding target to reduce net EU greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. A portion of this reduction would involve purchasing foreign carbon credits. The EU governments are currently divided on the level of ambition required to tackle global warming, especially as they concurrently address increased defense spending and support for struggling industries.
Initially, EU ministers intended to approve the 2040 climate target on September 18. However, EU countries’ ambassadors decided to cancel this plan during a meeting on Friday, as reported by the diplomats. While ministers are set to discuss the 2040 goal next week, the discussions will subsequently escalate to the leaders of EU governments before any agreement is finalized.
Failure to secure a deal next week might result in the EU missing a mid-September deadline for submitting new climate plans to the UN, ahead of the COP30 climate summit scheduled for November. Denmark, Spain, and the Netherlands are among the countries endorsing the 90 percent emissions reduction target, according to the diplomats. In contrast, countries such as France, Poland, and Italy have opposed the proposed goal and insisted on escalating the matter to the heads of government, who are set to meet in October.
To gain the support of skeptical countries, diplomats are considering options like covering a larger share of the target with carbon credits or linking the climate target agreement to changes in other EU laws, such as the bloc’s carbon border levy or its 2035 combustion engine car phase-out. Germany supports the 90 percent emissions reduction target but advocates for discussions among government leaders before finalizing any deal, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the environment ministry.