Powerful countries Germany, France and Spain have joined Denmark in line with advice from EU scientists that net greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut to less than a tenth of 1990 levels. It is among 10 member countries seeking emissions reduction targets for 2040.
Denmark is so far the only country to explicitly support a 90% net reduction target, which would represent a sevenfold reduction from current levels over the next 16 years. Climate Minister Lars Aagaard made the announcement during the COP28 climate conference in Dubai in early December.
A joint statement distributed by Denmark on Thursday said EU government leaders will commit to a transition to net-zero emissions “in line with the best available science” to meet the emissions cap at their mid-December summit. It was noted that he welcomed the just-concluded global agreement to accelerate the pace of action. Global temperatures have risen by 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
” [EU] The target is consistent with the long-term temperature target of 1.5 °C and should take into account the principles of European climate law, such as best available science, cost-effectiveness, a fair and just transition, and the costs of inaction. And follow the advice of the European Scientific Advisory Committee on Climate Change,” the statement continues.
The document, which is also signed by ministers from Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal, does not specify a desired 2040 target, but an independent advisory committee last summer said the EU concluded that it is necessary to adopt a target of 90%. If we have a good chance of meeting our pledge to reach net zero in 10 years, that would be -95%.
The EU Executive is scheduled to publish a document on February 6th setting out recommendations for the 2040 target. Newly appointed climate change commissioner Wopke Hoekstra has already promised to “defend” the target of at least 90% recommended by the scientific committee.
Climate Minister Aagaard said today (26 January) that ambitious targets are also needed to ensure Europe’s “energy independence and future competitiveness”. Denmark’s Permanent Representative Office in Brussels said on social media that the Scandinavian country had “ralized a broad alliance of European countries from north to south and east to west” in support of its high ambitions.
However, climate change activists had mixed reactions to the joint statement. Climate Action Network Europe’s Sven Harmeling told Euronews that the movement welcomed the fact that some “influential member states” were pushing for ambitious targets, but that an announcement could not be made next week. It noted that the Commission was modeling higher goals as it finalized its planned impact assessment.