EU: Parliament agrees its negotiating position on new 2040 climate target

On 13 November 2025, the European Parliament agreed its negotiating position on the Commission's proposal for a new 2040 climate target (see EP press release). 

The European Parliament's position is broadly in line with the Council's own negotiating position which was reached on 5 November (see our previous blog post). 

What did the Parliament agree? 

The European Parliament agrees that:

• The existing European Climate Law should be amended to include a new binding 2040 climate target of reducing net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90% compared to 1990 levels.
• From 2036, up to 5% of those emissions reductions could come from high-quality international carbon credits from partner countries, but the Parliament wants assurances that this will be subject to robust safeguards.
• The introduction of the new ETS2 should be delayed by one year, from 2027 to 2028. This is a new EU Emissions Trading System for fuel used in buildings and road transport.
• The Commission must review the intermediate targets in the European Climate Law every second year and propose an amendment to that law if appropriate, which could involve modifying the 2040 target. 

For more information on the existing European Climate Law and the Commission's proposal, see our previous blog post. 

Next steps

Trilogues (i.e. negotiations) between the European Parliament and Council can now begin. As their negotiations positions are broadly aligned, it is hoped that the Parliament and Council can reach final agreement on this proposal before the end of 2025. 

Once this change to the European Climate Law has been finalised, the Commission will need to propose a programme of measures (including new legislation) to enable the EU to meet its new 2040 climate target - similar to what the Commission did with the “Fit for 55” package when the EU agreed its 2030 climate target.