40% by 2020

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Friends of the Earth Europe argue that Europe can achieve a 40% reduction in emissions by 2020 and 90% by 2050 through radical energy system changes and lifestyle shifts. The study estimates the implementation cost at approximately 2% of Europe's discounted cumulative GDP between 2010 and 2020. To achieve climate justice, the report suggests Europe must also provide between €150 billion and €450 billion annually to developing countries by 2020. The proposed pathway excludes nuclear power, biofuels, and carbon capture and storage, focusing instead on wind energy, electrification, and energy efficiency.

• Europe can achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions of at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 90% by 2050, though this would still use about one third of the remaining atmospheric space for safe pollution.
• Based on the Greenhouse Development Rights burden-sharing approach, Europe's total obligation by 2020 is 103% reductions below 1990 levels, split between 40% domestic cuts and international mitigation investments of €150 billion to €450 billion per year.
• The cost of implementing the 40% scenario is estimated at €1.94 trillion, or roughly 2% of Europe’s discounted cumulative GDP between 2010 and 2020, which is lower than the estimated costs of inaction (5% to over 20% of global GDP).
• The transition requires a radical shift in the energy mix, specifically increasing the share of wind power in generation from 3.3% in 2010 to 22% in 2020 and 55% in 2050.
• Significant emission cuts by 2050 are expected from the transport sector (32%), electricity generation (28%), and heat production (11%), supported by lifestyle changes such as reducing car trips from 75% in 2005 to 43% in 2050.
• The study explicitly excludes certain technologies and mechanisms from its scenario, including nuclear power, biofuels, carbon capture and storage, and offsetting via the Clean Development Mechanism.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2009). 40% by 2020. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/News/Press-releases/Mediabriefing.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. 40% by 2020. 2009. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/News/Press-releases/Mediabriefing.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=40% by 2020 |date=1 December 2009 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/News/Press-releases/Mediabriefing.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute20092020, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{40\% by 2020}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2009}, month = dec, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/News/Press-releases/Mediabriefing.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }