As planned, Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra presented the EU Commission's new proposal on 6 February 2024, following a recommendation that had already been announced in October. According to the European Climate Law, the EU Commission is obliged to propose a new climate target six months after the first global stocktake, which took place last December as part of COP28 in Dubai.

The target recommendation is based on a detailed impact assessment of the options for achieving climate neutrality in the EU by 2050. Although the 90 percent reduction target is in line with the recommendations of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC) and the commitments made under the Paris Climate Agreement, it is at the lower end of the recommended 90 to 95 percent reduction.

Crisis resilience, competitiveness and a just transition
The costs of the climate crisis and its social, environmental and economic impact are constantly rising. According to the EU Commission, the recommended targets are intended to set the direction for Europe to be resilient to crises by 2050, strengthen the EU's independence, maintain European competitiveness and at the same time position itself as a global pioneer in tackling climate change. At the forefront of the proposed measures is the successful implementation of existing laws and necessary investments to reduce emissions by 55 percent by 2030 and pave the way for climate neutrality.

Above all, Hoekstra also emphasises the need for a strong focus on solidarity and a just transition, in which no EU Member State should be left behind. Instruments such as the Social Climate Fund and the Just Transition Fund are necessary to support are necessary to support particularly affected people and regions. This can also be endorsed from AK’s perspective, although more ambition and resources must be channelled into this field. As part of the European Alliance for a Just Transition, AK is committed to a transition policy in which social justice is emphasised and costs are distributed fairly.

To develop an adequate framework for the period after 2030 and to achieve this just transition, the EU Commission considers strategic dialogue with stakeholder groups from industry and agriculture, as well as with social partners, to be key in its communication. The dialogue with social and trade union actors is particularly important for strengthening secure, high-quality jobs and training opportunities.

Net-zero technologies
Some greenhouse gas emissions cannot be reduced by emission-reducing measures, or only with great difficulty. This applies, for example, to cement production or cattle breeding (so-called hard-to-abate sectors). To reduce emissions by 90 percent by 2040 and become climate-neutral by 2050, these remaining emissions must be offset by "negative emissions". This can be achieved through the natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by plants or through the technical removal of CO2 from the air. These processes are known as "carbon removals". In addition, CO2 capture from exhaust gases will also play a role in future. Instead of releasing this CO2 into the atmosphere, it will be stored underground and thus will not cause any additional pollution.

For this purpose, the Commission sets out in the Industrial Carbon Management Communication how the development of the necessary CO2 value chains and transport infrastructures could be made possible. Based on the impact assessment on the recommended climate target, the EU will need a carbon storage capacity of about 280 million tonnes per year in 2040.

According to the EU Commission, the expansion of renewable energies, the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and the use of nuclear energy should lead to the complete decarbonisation of the electricity sector by shortly after 2040. This path is supported by the Net-Zero Industry Act, based on which a provisional agreement was recently reached between the EU Parliament and the Council. The aim is for European industry to remain competitive and reduce global dependence on fossil fuels, also by promoting circular economy.

Protests show effect
In recent weeks, numerous farmers have taken to the streets in several EU countries (most recently in Brussels at the beginning of February) to protest against increased costs and planned regulations. The protests appear to have achieved their aim and influenced the EU Commission in its recommendation: According to reports, a 30 percent reduction in emissions in the agricultural sector was still planned before the communication was published, but this is no longer included in the communication presented. Monique Goyens, Director of the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), explains in a press release that consumers are willing to fulfil their part in the fight against the climate crisis. However, the EU Commission is now called upon to support this with clear legislative proposals.

Responsibility lies with the next Commission
The communication on the 2040 climate target is a recommendation by the EU Commission that is intended to provide direction. It will be the task of the new Commission to develop a legislative proposal, which will then be agreed with the EU Parliament and Council. This will be reconstituted after the EU elections in June. However, the political forces in the EU Parliament and the Member States will position themselves on this communication even before the legislative proposal.

Further information:
AK EUROPA Position Paper: New European Industrial Policy – focus: Green Deal Industrial Plan & Net-Zero Industry Act
AK EUROPA: An EU just transition policy framework. What measures are necessary?
AK EUROPA: “Fit for 55” – Europe’s path towards climate neutrality
AK EUROPA Position Paper: “Fit for 55” – Package IV: Renewable Energy Directive
A&W-Blog: Just Transition: Arbeitskräfte für die Energiewende (Labour for the energy transition) - (awblog.at)  (German only)
AK EUROPA Position Paper: Auf dem Weg zu einem nachhaltigen Europa bis 2030 (On the way to a sustainable Europe by 2030 (German only)