In a last-minute compromise ahead of COP30, European Union leaders have agreed to a weakened climate target, sparking criticism from environmental groups and some member states. The deal, reached after intensive negotiations, reduces the EU’s previously ambitious carbon reduction commitments, reflecting the difficulty of balancing economic and environmental priorities.
Officials say the compromise was necessary to secure unanimous agreement among all 27 EU member states. Critics argue the move undermines global climate ambitions and sends the wrong signal ahead of the international summit in Brazil.
00:07We agreed on the 2040 targets, on all the content of the climate law.
00:18We agreed on an NDC.
00:21So we have now the three pillars that the presidency was aiming for
00:26before we are going to jump into the plane to Berlin.
00:31We have the mandate.
00:33We have the EU climate law setting a binding target at 90% for 2040.
00:41And we have an NDC with a range that I can only hope that other countries
00:47in the world would aspire to meet our ambition level.
00:51The target is in line with science.
00:54It's needed not only for showing our global leadership in climate,
01:01but it's also there to give guidance to industry.
01:06I think the strongest dream in this planet is the European dream.
01:13It's a dream of a continent based on democracy that works together,
01:22securing the living conditions of Europeans at present times, but also in the future.
01:30a dream of a continent that will protect the competitiveness of its economy.
01:39And it is a dream of a continent that takes a leading role in this world in so many aspects,
01:47including the fight against climate change.
01:52I think the, and I'm convinced, the result both on the NDC and on the 2040 targets is excellent.
02:04And, of course, as always in politics, the road is never a straight line.
02:11It's not a national politics, at least not in my experience, and it is not a European politics.
02:17We have agreed to a legally binding headline 2040 target of 90%, with a domestic target of 85% and up to 5% international credits.
02:26We have reaffirmed the flexibilities that we've put on the table.
02:30As I'm sure you've seen, we are also postponing ETS 2 by one year, and we're adopting measures on the ETS 2 implementation framework to smoothen the launch of it.
02:42And we have upheld our commitment, of course, hugely important, of coming to Berlin with an ambitious NDC.
02:51Again, exactly the range that we have aimed for, 66.25 to 72.5.
02:58You do need to make sure that 27 countries need to find the landing zone.
03:02So is that two steps to the left and then one to the right or vice versa?
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