Brussels is preparing to unveil ambitious new carbon emissions targets as the European Parliament ramps up pressure on the incoming European Commission by declaring a “climate emergency” in the EU.
According to a leaked document seen by the Financial Times, incoming commission president Ursula von der Leyen will begin her term by asking EU member states to commit by next year to reduce their 2030 carbon emissions from a target of 40 per cent at present to “at least 50 per cent and towards 55 per cent”.
The plan emerged as the European Parliament declared a climate emergency in the EU, ahead of next week’s UN COP25 summit in Madrid. The largely symbolic move makes the EU the first power — along with individual countries such as the UK and France — to make the declaration.