The EU urgently agrees to reduce emissions by 90% by 2040, but with numerous exceptions.

BrusselsThe European Union asserts itself as the power more committed to the fight against climate changeIt has promoted an ambitious green agenda and has pushed through numerous environmental initiatives in recent years. However, the anti-environmental wave – primarily driven by the far right – has been gaining increasing strength and influence in European institutions, ultimately changing the European bloc's overall position on environmental issues. This shift was evident in the agreement reached by most member states on Wednesday morning, after almost 24 hours of marathon negotiations: they propose to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, despite including numerous flexibilities. Brussels had already submitted a proposal that lowered the environmental commitments made by the EU to date, which it must present at the COP climate summit. which is organized by the UN and begins in Belém (Brazil) this weekHowever, some large member states, such as Germany, Poland, and Italy, remained reluctant to accept the text presented by the European Commission, calling for a lower tax rate and greater flexibility. Conversely, some countries, particularly Spain, were completely opposed to accepting a less ambitious climate target for 2040, although they have since yielded to a less ambitious agreement. Beyond the percentage of emissions reductions, the discussion among EU environment ministers has focused on the fine print of the agreement, particularly the maximum number of emission allowances that member states can purchase from countries outside the European bloc. This will allow member states to count the emission reductions they achieve in third countries, typically in the Global South, through green investments, towards their climate targets. The European Commission had initially proposed a maximum of 3% of the EU's 1990 emissions, but some countries, including France, were calling for an increase to 5%. Italy, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, among others, were demanding an even higher percentage, around 10%. Finally, the member states most opposed to the European green agenda have succeeded in allowing them to purchase these types of credits with state funds, thus enabling them to continue polluting the EU if third countries manage to reduce their emissions by up to 5%. Furthermore, Brussels will be able to acquire an additional 5% of emission allowances from non-EU countries using EU funds. Thus, in practice, the final percentage will be 10%, and therefore, within the EU, European partners commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80%—not 90%—by 2040. Although Italy has been convinced, some member states voted against it—Poland included—and it was approved by a qualified majority.

The reduction rate agreed upon this Wednesday is intended to be an intermediate point between the goal of reducing polluting emissions by 55% in 2030 and the climate neutrality that is to be achieved by 2050. However, some member states, especially Poland, have requested the possibility of including technological advancements that are not progressing as quickly as expected or "at the pace of the EU's climate ambitions."

The two ways of viewing competitiveness

Both the states most in favor of greater environmental ambition and those advocating for lower climate targets argue that their option is the most positive for the EU's competitiveness. Germany, Italy, and Poland, for example, maintain that climate targets could be a burden for their industries, especially the automotive sector, in a context of increasing competition from the United States and China. Conversely, Spain and the Netherlands see a need to strengthen the fight against climate change to reduce, for example, the effects of climate disasters and to boost the energy transition, which can increase the EU's autonomy and make it more competitive against, precisely, Chinese and American power. In fact, these two opposing views are what have caused the EU to remain deadlocked over a climate agreement that long ago would have been a minimal one and would have enjoyed the majority consensus of the member states. The European partners should have reached an agreement and presented it at COP20 long ago; And at the last meeting of European leaders, they already agreed to finalize a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target by Tuesday at the latest, so that the EU wouldn't arrive empty-handed at the international summit. However, the back-and-forth between the environment ministers continues, and Tuesday's EU Council meeting is unusually long. And, so far, without any results.