European Union lawmakers have reached a comprehensive agreement to cut greenhouse‑gas emissions by 90 % of 1990 levels by 2040. The bloc, which has already reduced emissions by 37 % since 1990, will allow up to 5 % of the required cuts to be achieved through the purchase of carbon credits from projects outside Europe. This provision was added to address concerns from several member states, including Italy, that had questioned the ambition of the target.
The agreement also postpones the implementation of an emissions‑trading system for road transport and heating in buildings by one year, moving the start date to 2028 after pressure from Poland and Hungary. In addition, the EU may later permit member states to use international carbon credits for another 5 % of their reduction targets.
The deal, which must still be formally approved by all 27 EU member states and the European Parliament, will provide the framework for the Union’s climate policy in the coming decades. As the world’s fourth‑largest emitter of greenhouse gases—behind China, the United States and India—the EU’s commitment to a low‑carbon economy is expected to have a significant impact on global efforts to mitigate climate change.
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