Joint European Advisory Councils: 'An ambitious climate target in 2040 is a necessary step towards a climate neutral EU in 2050'
Ahead of the Global Climate Summit (COP28), nine advisory councils and their umbrella network, the European Environmental and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils Network (EEAC), are pushing for an EU target for greenhouse gas reductions by 2040. An ambitious EU climate target for 2040 is a necessary step toward a climate-neutral continent by 2050, the councils say.
Global importance
With COP28 on the horizon, the need for ambitious targets from the EU is a matter of global concern. EEAC President Arnau Queralt Bassa said: "We echo what Mr. Hoekstra said earlier on this subject, 'The EU must continue to lead by example and set ambitious targets that are in line with the goals of Paris Agreement and with the best available scientific evidence.' The best way to do this is to set an ambitious target for 2035 and with an ambitious nationally determined contribution (NDC) in line with a 90-95% reduction target for 2040."
Promise
The advisory councils urge Wopke Hoekstra (Euro commissioner for climate), Maroš Šefčovič (vice president of the European Commission) and Kurt Vandenberghe (DG European Climate Policy) to deliver on their promise to take into account the European Climate Change Advisory Board's (ESABCC) opinion on the matter. The ESABCC published a comprehensive study in June recommending a 90-95% reduction target for 2040.
Prior to his appointment as European climate commissioner, Hoekstra promised to work toward a target of at least -90% net greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. In late October, he reiterated his intention to bring this issue before the College of Commissioners. With their letter, the councils want to support Eurocommissioner Hoekstra not only from the EEAC, but also from the national advisory councils.