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european After overnight debate before a U.N. climate summit, the union said Wednesday it would cut carbon emissions by 90% by 2040, a deal widely seen as undermining the 27-nation bloc’s previous climate targets. brazil,
Hungary, slovakia And poland Despite agreeing on key compromises, including allowing member states the flexibility to buy carbon credits internationally to reach their emissions targets and requiring the EU to reevaluate its climate policy based on economic performance, other countries voted against the deal. The agreement also allows for the postponement of a new carbon trading scheme covering transport and heating, a central demand of Poland.
Environmentalists criticized the agreement for provisions that would allow the EU to buy carbon credits from less-developed countries, effectively outsourcing the bloc’s obligations. Thomas Glynn, Greenpeace EU climate campaigner, said, “The use of offshore carbon laundering to meet this nominal target means that the EU’s own commitment is too low, and a commitment with a baked-in clause to reduce the target every two years means even less.” Jeroen Gerlag, Europe director of the non-profit Climate Group, said that “although the EU keeps its 90% commitment on paper, in reality it will be offshoring some of its emissions reductions – making it someone else’s problem.”
The agreement was agreed upon in a marathon session between EU climate ministers that lasted overnight till Wednesday morning. Before it becomes a legally binding document, the European Parliament will vote on it and negotiate its content with the European Council.
“This is exactly the signal Europe needs to send at this time,” Swedish Climate Minister Romina Pourmokhtari said. He thanked Finland, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands for pushing for higher emissions cuts in the debate.
Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Development, said the agreement was stronger than that of allies in the Pacific, Europe and North America, but that some compromise was necessary amid current geopolitical and economic tensions.
“On this continent, we will continue climate action, but it must be bridged, combined with freedom and competitiveness. Not one without the other. All three are essential,” he said.
EU Executive, President of the European Commission Ursula von der LeyenWill now travel to Brazil for the Conference of the Parties – known as COP30 – with no clear EU emissions deal.
“We now have the possibility to go to Belém with leadership,” said Spain’s Climate Minister Sara Egesen.
Many EU governments have shifted to the right since the Paris Agreement in 2015. Some see climate rules as weakening the economy, while others say Europe will either make and sell renewable energy or be forced to buy energy or green products from countries like China.
Wildfires, heat waves and floods have become more common across Europe, increasing calls for more climate action. But crises such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and newly unstable relations with the United States have increased political and economic pressure to reduce key environmental policies.