EU 2040 Climate Architecture: Target Designs and Framework Options

Discussing design options for the EU 2040 climate framework

Publication: Report
Citation: Meyer-Ohlendorf, Nils, et al (2023): EU 2040 climate architecture. Ecologic Institute, Berlin

The EU has to adopt a climate target for 2040. This is a legal obligation enshrined in the EU Climate Law. The 2040 climate target is a critical milestone on the EU's path towards climate neutrality by 2050 and net negative emissions thereafter. Weak target designs and implementation frameworks will undermine the EU's efforts to achieve climate neutrality.

A new report by the Ecologic Institute and the Oeko-Institut provides an overview of design options for the EU's 2040 climate target and options for the implementation framework. The report discusses reforms how to make the EU climate policy framework fit for achieving the 2040 climate target.

Implementing the EU 2040 Climate Target: Building blocks and measures

7 November 2024
Brussels, Belgium

Publication:Report

A new report by the Ecologic Institute and the Oeko-Institut explores the past contribution of the industry sector to already achieved emission reductions as well as the contribution of the industry sector to the upcoming 2040 climate target and what it takes for industry to achieve the related emission reductions. With a focus on measures and policies governing that would further reduce emissions in industry, the report also examines the key challenges faced by the industry sector and how this is addressed in EU legislation.

EU 2040 Climate Target: Contributions of the industry sector

Year 2024

Publication:Report

A new report by the Ecologic Institute and the Oeko-Institut explores the role of carbon removals in the EU's climate framework for 2040. The report gives an overview of past trends in carbon removals in the EU, and explores possible contributions from natural and technical sinks to reaching the 2040 climate target. With a focus on measures and policies governing and incentivizing carbon removals, the report also examines the extent to which temporary and permanent carbon removals can contribute to achieving the EU's 2040 target.

EU 2040 Climate Target and Framework: The Role of Carbon Removals

Potentials, incentives, and regulation

Year 2023

Publication:Report

This report by Ecologic Institute and the Oeko-Institut discusses the level of ambition of a 2040 EU climate target. The report analyses the implications of a 2040 climate target for Member States and sectors. It also discusses the political context in which the EU 2040 climate target will be negotiated.

Designing the EU 2040 Climate Target

Political context, level of ambition, implications for Member States and sectors

Year 2023

Project

Ecologic Institute and the Oeko-Institute have launched a project to analyse the ambition level of the 2040 target. The project also examines the impacts of a new 2040 target on EU Member States, sectors, and instruments.

EU 2040 Climate Target

Level of ambition and implications

Mar 2023 - May 2025

Language: English
Authorship: Dr. Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf

Deyana Kocher

Jakob Graichen (Oeko-Institut)

Sabine Gores (Oeko-Institut)
Funding: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), Germany
Published by: Ecologic Institute, Germany
Year: 2023
Dimension: 31 pp.
Project: EU 2040 Climate Target
Project ID: 60028
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

1 Introduction
2 Options to design the EU's 2040 climate target
2.1 Combined climate targets
2.2 Separate targets for carbon removals and emission reductions
2.3 Separate targets for specific removal activities
2.4 Sector targets at the EU level
2.5 Five-year climate targets?
2.6 Scope of targets: International transport and targets for non-CO2 GHG emissions?
2.7 Targets for climate action outside the EU?
3 Implementation framework for 2040: Which requirements exist, and which gaps persist?
3.1 What does the current policy framework regulate for 2040?
3.2 What are the gaps in the current framework for 2040?
4 Possible options for the EU 2040 climate framework
4.1 Should national reduction targets under CARE continue?
4.2 Reforming the Climate Action Regulation: Fit for 2040
4.3 Merging ETS 1 and ETS 2
4.4 ETS 3 for agriculture?
4.5 Reform of the LULUCF Regulation
5 References
Keywords: Climate

EU