A possible 2050 climate target for the EU

The NewClimate Institute research paper argues that the EU's 2050 greenhouse gas reduction targets of 80% to 95% are outdated and insufficient. It finds that an 80% reduction is incompatible with the Paris Agreement and that even neutrality by 2050 is not a fair contribution. Based on equity principles, the study suggests the EU should have reached zero emissions by 2030-2040 to leave remaining carbon budgets for other nations.

• The European Union's 2050 greenhouse gas reduction target of 80% to 95% relative to 1990 levels is considered outdated because the underlying basis has changed significantly, and the 2015 Paris Agreement established more ambitious global goals.
• An 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 compared to 1990 levels is incompatible with the Paris Agreement's long-term temperature limit. Furthermore, targets of 95% reduction or greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050 are deemed insufficient to constitute a fair contribution by the EU toward various interpretations of the Paris Agreement.
• Based on equity principles for allocating emissions, the EU has already exhausted its fair share of greenhouse gas emissions. To allow countries with less historical responsibility and capability to use the remaining limited budget, the EU would need to reduce emissions to zero almost immediately, specifically between 2030 and 2040.

APA

NewClimate Institute (2019). A possible 2050 climate target for the EU. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/a-possible-2050-climate-target-for-the-eu

Chicago

NewClimate Institute. A possible 2050 climate target for the EU. 2019. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/a-possible-2050-climate-target-for-the-eu.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=NewClimate Institute |title=A possible 2050 climate target for the EU |date=23 September 2019 |url=http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/a-possible-2050-climate-target-for-the-eu |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{newclimateinstitute2019possible, author = {{NewClimate Institute}}, title = {{A possible 2050 climate target for the EU}}, institution = {NewClimate Institute}, year = {2019}, month = sep, url = {http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/a-possible-2050-climate-target-for-the-eu}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }