It's just a recommendation for now, but it's far-reaching: by 2040, the EU should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent compared to 1990. The EU Commission proposed this on Tuesday. This would mean that most of the path to climate neutrality would have been completed well before the middle of the century. The proposal also calls for expanding renewable energy and advancing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. The figures are to be submitted as a legislative proposal by the new Commission after the European elections in June.

Has Commission President Ursula von der Leyen achieved a major climate policy achievement shortly before the end of her current term of office?

As is often the case, it depends on the perspective. Only on Thursday did the EU climate change service Copernicus report that for the first time since measurements began, global warming over a one-year period was above 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial times. The mark is symbolic because the states of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015 agreed not to tear it down in the long term if possible. In light of this news, climate goals, which still have 16 years left to achieve, seem very far away and have a crucial drawback: they are goals, not measures. Its own Scientific Advisory Board had also suggested setting the new interim targets in the range of 90-95 percent reduction; here the commission remains at the lower end of the recommendation.

Politically, a remarkable proposal

If you evaluate the numbers politically rather than scientifically, they are quite impressive. In these times – and just a few months before crucial elections – coming up with new, stricter climate targets is courageous. The publicly perceived urgency of climate protection has been steadily ebbing for a good two years; in the previous European elections, the parties were competing for programs against the climate crisis, and the youth on the streets kept up the pressure. That is a thing of the past: the discourse is now dominated by those who complain (in many places justifiably) about high energy prices, general inflation and too much bureaucracy and burden.

Politically, it is easy for anyone who is campaigning for restraint in climate protection in the approaching election campaign. France and Belgium, for example, recently called for a pause in the introduction of new environmental regulations - not the current EU Commission under the conservative von der Leyen. One should also not underestimate what the numbers essentially mean if implemented successfully: They commit Europe to an almost complete phase-out of fossil fuels; if emissions that are difficult to prevent, for example from agriculture and the construction industry, are taken into account, savings of 90 percent would be achieved within the next few years Years otherwise cannot be achieved at all. The global community argued bitterly about this very exit at the last climate summit - and ultimately couldn't bring themselves to do it. The EU Commission is taking a pioneering role here.

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The topics of the week

Hawaii after the fire disaster: The fire, the mistakes, the anger 


In August, a bushfire destroyed Lahaina, Hawaii, killing at least 100 people. The city is still a restricted zone today, and its residents ask themselves: How can something like this happen – in one of the richest US states?

Cholera in Zambia: When climate change makes you sick


Cholera is spreading in Zambia. Almost 600 people have already died and all schools are closed. What the devastating outbreak of the disease has to do with climate change – and what the world will have to prepare for in the future.

Italian ski resort in distress: No snow, no winter (video)


The municipality of Rieti in central Italy is usually one of the Romans' favorite ski resorts. But this winter there was no snow at all. And the future is uncertain.

Last generation: Climate without glue 


The last generation no longer wants to stick to roads. The activists are planning mass demonstrations in the future. The change in strategy coincides with violent quarrels within the organization.

Stop for purchasing assistance: The traffic lights are slowing down the switch to electric trucks. 


Haulers are among the big losers in the 2024 federal budget. They have to bear a drastically increased truck toll, and at the same time the promotion of alternative drives is stopped. Manufacturers and experts are horrified.

Conversion for the energy transition: This is what the power plant strategy brings 


The conversion of the German power plant park is intended to make the energy supply more climate-friendly - without compromising security of supply or increasing electricity prices. What are the chances of this succeeding?

Stay confident.

Yours, Kurt Stukenberg,


Deputy Head of International Department