On 6th February, the Commission published its Communication on a 2040 Climate Target, recommending a 90% reduction in EU’s net greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels. A detailed Impact Assessment Report accompanies the Communication. The Commission’s position and recommended target for 2040 was based on the advice of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change, which however recommended a reduction target in the range of 90-95%.
The Communication kickstarts the process of setting the EU 2040 climate target, which is a legal requirement of the EU Climate Law adopted in 2021. The next Commission will make a legislative proposal to amend the Climate Law and include such a target.
In the last months, Solar Heat Europe (SHE) has actively participated in this process, starting with the public consultation that took place in June 2023. On 5th February, SHE organized a joint media briefing together with Bioenergy Europe and the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC). The next day, SHE reacted to the Communication with a press release, welcoming and supporting an ambitious target of at least a 90% reduction in GHG emissions by 2040 and calling on the Commission to propose also a sub-sectoral target for the decarbonisation of heating and cooling.
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