Rahul Somvanshi
The European Union wants to cut its climate pollution by 90% by 2040. This new target, announced by the European Commission, shows how Europe is tackling climate change head-on.
Recent extreme weather has caused Europe €170 billion in damage in the last five years. Without action, climate change could shrink Europe’s economy by 7% before 2100.
What does this mean in practice? First, Europe needs to transform how it produces energy. Coal-fueled power would be phased out gradually. Oil and gas use would drop by 80% compared to 2021. Instead, Europe would rely more on clean energy sources like wind, solar, and nuclear power.emissions
This shift brings both challenges and opportunities. Right now, Europe spends huge amounts on oil and gas imports – over 4% of its entire economy in 2022 alone. Cutting this dependency would help strengthen Europe’s economic security.
But some groups worry about these changes. Farmers have been protesting environmental rules, saying they threaten their livelihoods. In response, the EU has softened some targets for farming. The EU has also created special funds to help workers and communities most affected by these changes.
“Most citizens see climate change’s effects and want protection, but they worry about their livelihoods,” explains EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra.
The timing is crucial. Europe is already 2.2°C warmer than in pre-industrial times – hotter than the global average of 1.48°C. This warming brings more wildfires, floods, and droughts to European regions.
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To succeed, Europe plans to boost its clean technology industries. This means making more batteries, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and solar panels within the EU. The goal is to create new jobs while cutting pollution.
The EU will spend the coming months discussing these plans with various groups – from factory owners to farmers. After European elections in June, the next EU leadership will turn these ideas into firm laws.
Critics like Terry Reintke warn against weakening environmental protections. Meanwhile, industry leaders want assurance they can stay competitive globally.
The target is ambitious, but the EU believes the cost of inaction would be far higher. Success will depend on making these changes work for everyone – from large industries to regional communities.
