The Council of the European Union has announced that member states have reached an agreement on amending the European climate law and approved updated 2035 emission-reduction targets for the European Union and member states.

According to the document, the Council maintained the European Commission’s proposal for an intermediate climate target for 2040 of a 90 per cent reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels. The document sets out the Council’s position for subsequent negotiations with the European Parliament that will shape the final text of the legislation. It clarifies some areas of flexibility included in the Commission’s proposal and introduces a biennial assessment to track progress towards intermediate targets.

On the same day, the Council also approved an updated nationally determined contribution of the EU and member states, which will be submitted ahead of COP30 in Brazil.

The European climate law, which was officially adopted in 2021, sets two major, legally binding goals for all member countries first, to achieve climate neutrality by the year 2050, meaning the European Union will emit no more greenhouse gases than it can naturally or technologically absorb and second, to significantly cut down net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030, when compared to 1990 levels.