For much of the last three decades, the European Union has been at the forefront of global efforts to address climate change. The bloc achieved significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol, pioneered climate legislation, established the first emissions trading system in 2005, and played a key role in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
While other major nations—such as the U.S., Japan, Canada, China, and India—have at times retreated from climate commitments, the EU has consistently pushed forward. Without its efforts, the Paris Agreement might not have happened, as the bloc was instrumental in securing a crucial agreement at the 2011 Durban climate summit.
However, according to Wopke Hoekstra, the EU’s climate commissioner, that era has ended. While Europe will continue to lead, he stressed that other nations must also contribute.
“[We should expect] commitments from more than just the EU, since we account for only 6% of global emissions. Without broader participation, we won’t solve this crisis,” he said in an interview before the European Commission unveiled its proposed 2040 emissions target. “As much as I recognize the high expectations [for EU leadership], we need perspective. Our approach will remain ambitious yet practical.”
The commission’s proposal calls for a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 compared to 1990 levels. This figure falls at the lower end of the 90-95% range advised by the bloc’s scientific experts and has drawn criticism for allowing up to 3% of reductions to come from purchasing carbon credits abroad starting in 2036.
Mohamed Adow, director of the Nairobi-based think tank Power Shift Africa, warned: “The EU’s inclusion of carbon credits in its 2040 target is alarming and risks eroding trust when Europe must fill the gap left by the U.S. Carbon credits are an illusion—a way for wealthy nations to keep polluting while pretending climate action happens elsewhere.”
Yet, some support the approach. Rachel Humphries, Europe climate policy lead at the Nature Conservancy, said, “Properly managed carbon markets can accelerate climate progress.”
The proposal still faces significant obstacles. Opposition in the European Parliament is possible, and some member states—including Hungary, long skeptical of climate policy, and surprisingly France—have indicated they may push back.
On the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested delaying the 2040 target by decoupling it from discussions on the
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