European Union countries on Thursday approved a legally binding target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2040, as compared to 1990 levels. The new target is an amendment to the EU Climate Law and would advance the bloc’s path to its long-term goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

The approval came during a council meeting in Brussels where a reinforced majority of EU ministers signed off despite opposition from several members, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary, who raised concerns about the economic and social impact this would have on heavy industry, lower-income households, and farmers. Critics warned that rapid decarbonization could fuel higher energy prices, job losses in carbon-intensive sectors, and voter backlash. The hard-fought political compromise is, nonetheless, more ambitious than most major economies’ commitments on reducing emissions, including China’s.

To address these concerns, EU policymakers emphasized flexibility in how countries reach the target, and incorporated several compromises, such as up to 5 percent of the target being allowed to exploit high-quality international carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, a delayed rollout of new EU Emissions Trading System (ETS2), and biennial reviews wherein the commission will assess progress and weigh potential target adjustments.

Environmental groups have mostly welcomed the EU’s approval of this plan, with it being heralded as a vital step toward climate neutrality. Vice president and regional director for Europe at the World Resources Institute, Stientje van Veldhoven, praised the approval, saying:

The EU’s 90% target reflects the level of ambition this moment demands and stands out as one of the most ambitious commitments in the world. Finalizing it just ahead of COP30 shows that the bloc is determined to arrive at the summit with a serious contribution to tackling the climate crisis, and signals that it recognizes climate action as central to Europe’s economic future.

This comes after the 90 percent greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction had been criticized for being insufficient and relying on creative accounting. The EU Parliament also officially endorsed the European Green Deal in June 2021. The approved deal was struck in November 2025 after being proposed to replace Articles 4(3) and 4(5) of the EU Climate Law in June of that year. Under the approved plan, net GHG emissions will be reduced by 66.25-72.5% below 1990 levels by 2035.