Response to a public consultation on the EU climate target for 2040

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) argues that the EU must adopt a diversified, options-based climate strategy to reach its 2050 net-zero goal, as relying on a single pathway increases risk. The document emphasizes the necessity of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, noting that no operational CO2 storage sites currently exist in the EU. CATF recommends a portfolio of zero-carbon fuels, nuclear fission, fusion, and superhot rock energy to ensure energy security and a reliable 24/7 carbon-free electricity grid. It specifically proposes separate targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, nature-based removals, and industrial removals to ensure transparency and durability. Additionally, the document advises against including methane in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to avoid disincentivizing CO2 reductions, suggesting instead separate initiatives like an EU Import Standard for oil and gas.

• The EU requires a diversified technology portfolio to reach climate neutrality, as relying on a single pathway creates risk and different sectors or Member States will need different solutions.
• Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is essential for EU climate neutrality, with estimates suggesting a need to capture between 490 and 600 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2050, yet there are currently no operational storage sites within the EU.
• To avoid a deployment bottleneck, the EU should aim for a geological storage capacity of at least 300 Mt/year by 2040, as the most rapid phase of CCS deployment is expected between 2030 and 2040.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Response to a public consultation on the EU climate target for 2040. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/17085623/eu-2040-climate-targets.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Response to a public consultation on the EU climate target for 2040. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/17085623/eu-2040-climate-targets.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Response to a public consultation on the EU climate target for 2040 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/17085623/eu-2040-climate-targets.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{cleanairtaskforcendresponse, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Response to a public consultation on the EU climate target for 2040}}, publisher = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/17085623/eu-2040-climate-targets.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }