European Union Unveils Plan To Cut 90 Percent Emissions By 2040

The European Commission said on Tuesday that the European Union should slash greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2040. The Commission has released an impact assessment on possible pathways to reach the agreed goal of making the European Union climate neutral by 2050.

The Commission said in a statement that setting a 2040 climate target will help European industry, investors, citizens, and governments make decisions in this decade that will keep the EU on track to meet its climate neutrality objective. The Commission also noted that it will boost Europe’s resilience against future crises and strengthen the EU’s energy independence from fossil fuel imports. The European Union is already working on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030.

At the same time, the European Union is facing backlash over certain green policies. Farmers’ groups in various countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, Lithuania, and Poland, have staged protests over the past couple of months. Recently, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the withdrawal of a law that aimed to reduce the use of pesticides across the European Union. The EU had aimed to reduce the use of chemicals by 2030 as part of its Green Deal.

It is worth mentioning that making significant changes in Europe’s farming practices will be extremely difficult as parliamentary elections approach in June. “Tackling the climate crisis is a marathon, not a sprint. We need to make sure everyone crosses the finish line, and nobody is left behind,” said EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra. This statement comes as the EU is witnessing surging demands from member states to change its approach to climate change.