At least 55 % less emissions by 2030. Exactly three years later, in December 2020, EU leaders took another step towards climate neutrality. As an intermediate step towards the 2050 target, they agreed to cut EU greenhouse gas emissions by more than half (compared to 1990 levels) by 2030.

This new target was a significant step forward compared to the EU's previous target of reducing emissions by 40 % by 2030, which was agreed in 2014. Leaders called on the European Commission to come up with proposals to enable countries to reach the 2030 target by also through:

• improvements in green finance standards
• strengthening the EU emissions trading system
• support for climate-friendly innovations
• ensuring fairness and cost-effectiveness