EU likely to miss climate target deadline amid internal division
The EU appears set to miss the global February deadline for new climate targets, with internal disagreements and procedural delays hampering progress despite the bloc's calls for global climate action.
Zia Weise reports for POLITICO.
In short:
- The EU’s 27 member states are struggling to finalize a collective climate target for 2035, required by February 2024 under the Paris Agreement.
- Poland and other member nations express reluctance over new targets, arguing the EU is already a global climate leader with emissions reductions.
- Institutional transitions and complex legislative procedures mean the EU may not complete its climate plan until mid-2025.
Key quote:
“I would just sincerely hope that they tone down their whole international leadership narrative slightly if they miss the deadline in February.”
— Linda Kalcher, director at Strategic Perspectives.
Why this matters:
The EU’s failure to meet the target deadline could weaken its climate credibility and leadership role, especially if other major emitters use this delay as an excuse for inaction. This delay also threatens global climate goals, as the world’s current plans project warming far above Paris Agreement limits.
Learn more: European leaders missing from climate summit signal uncertainty over EU commitment
