Review of the EU's 2030 emissions targets

Environmental activists, including organizations such as the Climate Action Network and the Global Legal Action Network, are taking legal action against the European Commission. They argue that the European Union's (EU) current plans to cut emissions by 2030 are insufficient to meet the targets set by the Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Activists believe that the EU's goals fall short of this key commitment.

Background of the case

This legal step is significant because it is the first time that EU courts will assess whether the EU's climate goals are reasonable. In the past, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that countries must formulate emission targets based on scientific knowledge in order not to exceed the 1.5°C limit. This case will test whether the EU's targets are adequate and supported by scientific evidence that protects the environment.

What legal steps have been taken?

On August 23, 2024, these two non-profit organizations asked the European Commission to review the Annual Emission Allocations (AEA), which set emission reduction targets for individual EU member states. When the Commission rejected their request on 14 December 2023, the NGOs decided to take the case to the Court of Justice of the EU on 27 February 2024. Recognizing the urgency of the climate crisis, the court has given the case a high priority, with a hearing scheduled for 2025.

Emission targets and regulations

The Annual Emission Allocation (AEA) is part of the EU's Common Effort Regulation, which requires each EU country to reduce emissions by a certain amount by 2030. This approach touches on areas such as transport, buildings and agriculture. However, activists warn that these targets have not been sufficiently researched based on scientific studies and fear that they are not enough to meet climate goals.

Consequences of insufficient goals

According to activists, the EU's current emission targets could lead to a 3°C rise in global temperatures by 2100 if other countries maintain similarly weak policies. This level of warming could have devastating consequences for the entire planet. To prevent this, activists are calling for a 65 % reduction in emissions by 2030, which they see as essential for the EU to remain at the forefront of the fight against climate change.

If the activists were to win the dispute, the EU could be forced to set more ambitious targets for reducing emissions. This would not only align EU policies with its own environmental laws, but also strengthen its commitments under global climate agreements.

About the European Union

The European Union (EU) was founded in 1951 as the European Coal and Steel Community and has since grown into a union of 27 member countries with more than 447 million inhabitants. The euro is the official currency in 19 of these countries, while the Schengen area allows travel between 26 countries without the need for a passport. The EU has signed major treaties such as the Maastricht and Lisbon treaties and is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, while also supporting cultural exchanges through programs such as Erasmus+. (Co2AI)