EU Environment Council agrees 2040 climate target: 90% cut, ETS2 delay, stronger COP mandate
#ets2 #climatechange #climateaction
Denmark’s Climate Minister Lars Aagaard and EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra opened the Environment Council press conference by declaring a major step in Europe’s climate policy. Aagaard said the Council agreed a 2040 target and the content of the climate law, plus an EU NDC mandate ahead of COP in Belém, calling it proof that “failure is not an option.” He confirmed the EU climate law sets a binding 2040 target of 90%, framing it as science-aligned guidance for industry and for post-2030 legislation. Hoekstra described the outcome as a “three-step rocket” that delivered unity among 27 member states. He stressed the deal is “pragmatic, ambitious,” and built on the principle that climate, competitiveness and independence must go hand in hand.
The Commission detailed the headline architecture: a legally binding 90% by 2040, with 85% domestic reductions and up to 5% via international (Article 6) credits. Ministers also agreed to postpone ETS2 by one year and to adopt measures to smooth its launch, while committing to market-design proposals before the end of the year. Asked about the 2030 path, Hoekstra said the ETS2 delay has a “limited” impact and the EU is less than one percentage point short of hitting -55% by 2030.
On political support, Aagaard noted 24 member states backed the deal, two abstained, covering around 80% of the EU population. He argued the presidency sought the broadest possible consensus beyond legal requirements. Hoekstra insisted the package is “absolutely science-based,” Paris- and 1.5°C-proof, and competitive with pledges by other advanced economies.
Reporters pressed on who pays for carbon credits; Hoekstra said the Commission will propose details, prioritising scale, verification and additionality, and underlined that the international crediting remains an option. On the Social Climate Fund, he said first-year financing does not depend on ETS2 thanks to ETS1 revenues. Responding to industry concerns about certainty, Hoekstra highlighted that the numbers accelerate action in the 2030s and that Nordic experience shows clean tech is a “moneymaker.” Aagaard, drawing on 15 years in energy, said businesses want clear direction and a growing European economy to invest confidently.
EU officials framed the outcome as a strong COP mandate: an NDC range of 66.25–72.5%, a binding 2040 target, and a unified message to partners to match EU ambition. Comparisons with other developed countries, Hoekstra said, show the EU’s pledge is “second to none.” Closing the session, the Danish presidency signed off with a proverb: “All is well that ends well.”
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