Implementing the EU 2040 Climate Target: Building blocks and measures

Publication: Report
Citation: Meyer-Ohlendorf, Nils et al. (2024): Implementing the EU 2040 Climate Target. Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

The European Climate Law requires the EU to adopt a climate target for 2040. The European Commission recommends an EU climate target for 2040 of 90% reduction in net GHG emissions by 2040. To achieve emission reductions on this scale, the EU must meet its 2030 climate target and scale up its current reduction efforts significantly. In 2023, greenhouse gas emissions in the EU fell by 8%. These reductions were more than five times the average rate since 2005 and surpasses the annual rate required to meet the 2030 climate targets.

A new research report by the Ecologic Institute and Oeko-Institut discusses the implementation of the EU's new 2040 climate target. It identifies building blocks and measures particularly relevant for cutting the EU's emissions by net 90% in 2040. This report is available for download.

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

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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.

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Potentials, incentives, and regulation

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This 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.

EU 2040 Climate Architecture: Target Designs and Framework Options

Discussing design options for the EU 2040 climate framework

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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

Nora Kögel

Sabine Gores (Oeko-Institut)

Jakob Graichen (Oeko-Institut)
Funding: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), Germany
Published by: Ecologic Institute, Germany

Oeko-Institut (Öko-Institut e.V.), Germany
Year: 2025
Dimension: 63 pp.
Project: EU 2040 Climate Target
Project ID: 60028
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

Executive summary
1    Introduction
2    Building blocks for the 2040 target
2.1    Meeting the 2030 target
2.2    Reduced energy consumption
2.3    Availability of green electricity
2.4    Availability of sustainable biomass
2.5    Availability of green hydrogen
2.6    Availability of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and usage (CCU)
2.7    Availability of carbon removals
2.8    Funding and investment
2.9    Demand side measures complementary but indispensable
3    How can sectors contribute?
3.1    Industry
3.1.2    Key building blocks and challenges
3.1.3    Key measures and policies
3.2    Transport
3.2.1    Emission trends in transport and required emission levels in 2040
3.2.2    Key building blocks and challenges
3.2.3    Key measures and policies
3.3    Energy supply
3.3.1    Emission trends in energy generation and required emission levels in 2040
3.3.2    Key building blocks and challenges
3.3.3    Key measures and policies
3.4    Buildings
3.4.2    Key building blocks and challenges
3.4.3    Key measures and policies
3.5    Agriculture
3.5.2    Key building blocks and challenges
3.5.3    Key measures and policies
4    References
Keywords: Climate

EU

Governance

EU 2040 Climate Target, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Renewable Energy, Carbon Neutrality, Climate Change Mitigation, Green Hydrogen, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Sustainable Biomass, Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency, Circular Economy, Carbon Removals, Sustainable Transport, Low Carbon Industry, Energy Transition, Building Renovations, Emissions Trading System (ETS), Renewable Fuels, European Union, EU, EU Member States

Europe

Impact Assessment (IA), Emissions Trading System (ETS), Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), Linear Reduction Factor (LRF), Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS), Renewable Energy Directive (RED), Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), Life Variant Modeling, Carbon Contracts for Difference

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