EU leaders back 55% emissions cuts target

The agreement was reached despite the aggressive pushback from countries like Poland and Hungary

Earlier today, in the early hours of the morning, at the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, members of the European Council agreed on a proposal to bolster their climate ambitions and raise the bloc’s emissions cut target to 55% by 2030. This is a significant upgrade to the previously agreed objective of 40% but also falls well short of the European Parliament’s demand of 60% cuts.

From the night into the early morning

As often happens at EU leaders’ summits the fight on the specifics wasn’t resolved until the early hours of the morning. While some countries that were initially opposed to the more ambitious targets relented and were brought into the fold in the evening – namely Hungary and the Czech Republic, one specific problem child refused to give up without a fight.

Poland’s veto stood firm until around 8 AM, when leaders agreed for more financial aid to be provided to more coal reliant countries as they seek to improve their environmentally friendly energy infrastructure.

With the Polish opposition out of the way, the only obstacle remaining is the European Parliament’s consent. Yet MEP’s bark is usually far worse than their bite and they will most likely also give the target a green light despite their own more heightened ambitions of Europe achieving a 60% cut to emissions by 2030.

The agreement that was reached also comes at a symbolic moment – the anniversary of the Paris climate accord. Combined with Joe Biden’s victory in the US presidential elections in November, this gives the European Union even more ground to stand on as it seeks to fight climate change on a global scale with as many partners as possible.

Furthermore, the decision to cut pollution is also vital and instrumental for the EU’s ambition to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and paves the way for a radical transformation within the bloc.