EU proposes 90% 2050 climate target
European Commission introduces new flexibilities for member states to ease compliance with headline goal
The European Commission has proposed legislation for the EU to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90% on 1990 levels by 2040. The legislation builds on the current target of a 55% reduction by 2030—for which the Commission has said the EU is broadly on track—and includes new aspects such as the use of high-quality international credits, permanent removals through CCS, and greater emissions accounting flexibility between sectors. “We want to respond to the most essential challenge of our generation with full responsibility,” said executive vice-president of the European Commission Teresa Ribera. International credits The Commission has proposed that, starting from 2036, a limited co
Also in this section
2 January 2026
Next year may be a defining one for carbon capture, utilisation and storage in the US, despite the institutional uncertainty
23 December 2025
Legislative reform in Germany sets the stage for commercial carbon capture and transport at a national level, while the UK has already seen financial close on major CCS clusters
15 December 2025
Net zero is not the problem for the UK’s power system. The real issue is with an outdated market design in desperate need of modernisation
28 November 2025
The launch of the bloc’s emissions trading system in 2005 was a pioneering step, but as the scheme hits 21 its impact as a driver of decarbonisation is still open to debate






