The European Commission unveiled a long-awaited proposal for 2030 climate targets on 22 January, confirming plans not to renew the current 20-20-20 strategy for the following decade. The new communication proposes a binding target for reducing emissions by 40% from 1990 levels.

Environmentalists dubbed it a “walk now, sprint later” package that would require the EU to decarbonise twice as fast in the last two decades to 2050, as in the four decades before. Notably, however, the reduction target can only be met domestically, unlike the EU’s 2020 target, in which member states can meet their obligations by funding international projects in the developing world.

At the same time, the Commission has retreated on the idea that there should be a binding renewable energy target on member states. The 2030 target – “up to” a 27% share of renewable energy in the total energy mix – would only be ‘binding’ at EU level and would not be broken down into national obligations.

Without individual obligations on member states it isn’t really binding, say critics.

More information here.