Climate targets: "EU must reach neutrality by 2040" (WWF); "ETS should not replace NDCs" (CMW)

"We advocate for the EU to reach climate neutrality by 2040. 90 to 95% reduction of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions should be the floor, not the ceiling", declares Michael Sicaud-Clyet, climate policy officer at WWF EU, in a press briefing where News Tank was present, on 26/06/2025.

The European Commission will present its 2040 climate target legislative proposal with carbon credits on 02/07/2025. The European Climate Law from 2021 sets an ambition to reduce GHG emissions by 55% in 2030 compared to 1990 levels and communicate an intermediate goal for 2040 before the 2050 neutrality target.

But NGOs WWF, CAN (Climate Action Network) Europe and Carbon Market Watch worry that insufficient ambition of the EU and further delay demanded by certain member States - especially France - will worsen the climate crisis.

Emmanuel Macron, the French President, has reportedly asked for the 2040 climate target to be included in the discussions at the European summit in Brussels, on 26/06/2025, although it is not officially on the agenda.

"We are backsliding. The EU's urge to add more flexibility to…