The European Union announced on Wednesday that it is progressing well toward meeting its 2030 climate objectives. According to the European Commission's recent assessment, greenhouse gas emissions are expected to decrease by 54% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, narrowly missing the 55% reduction target.
Since 1990, emissions have already dropped by 37%, while the EU economy expanded by nearly 70%, illustrating that environmental efforts and economic growth can coexist, stated Wopke Hoekstra, the EU's climate chief. However, the Commission acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly disparities among member states and issues related to forest conservation and carbon storage.
Belgium, Estonia, and Poland were specifically called out for failing to submit their energy and climate plans, with the Commission urging them to comply promptly. Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen emphasized that despite significant progress, the EU has yet to fully achieve its climate goals.
Looking ahead, the EU aims to become carbon neutral by 2050. To this end, Brussels is pursuing an ambitious 90% reduction in emissions by 2040, relative to 1990 levels, and hopes to establish an interim target soon to bridge the gap between 2030 and 2050 objectives.
