EU reaches climate deal ahead of COP30
EU member states reached a deal early on Wednesday to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by 2040 compared with 1990 levels, following more than 18 hours of talks in Brussels. Belgium abstained from the vote, citing a lack of guarantees to protect European industry’s competitiveness.
The new target forms part of the EU’s path toward climate neutrality by 2050. The bloc already has a legally binding goal to reduce emissions by 55 per cent by 2030, but until now had no clear milestones beyond that date.
Without this agreement, the EU risked arriving at the COP30 summit in Belem, Brazil, without an updated position.
To win over more reluctant countries, ministers agreed to allow up to 5 per cent of the reduction effort to be met through foreign carbon credits, with a further 5 per cent potentially outsourced later.
The compromise came after tough negotiations between climate-ambitious states such as Germany, Spain and Sweden, and holdouts including Italy, France and Poland.
The deal is expected to be formally endorsed later on Wednesday.
© PHOTO PABLO PORCIUNCULA / AFP
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