40% by 2020

A media briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Friends of the Earth Europe detailing a study on the feasibility of Europe reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 90% by 2050. The document outlines the necessary energy system transformations, lifestyle changes, and financial obligations to developing countries required to achieve climate justice and limit global temperature increases to 2°C.

• The study concludes that emission reductions of at least 40% below 1990 levels within Europe by 2020 and 90% by 2050 are possible. These targets are proposed because developed countries reducing emissions by 25-40% by 2020 can stabilise CO2 equivalent concentrations at 450 parts per million (ppm), though scientists suggest 350 ppm is needed to meet the 2°C target.
• To achieve climate justice, Europe's total obligation is calculated as 103% greenhouse gas reductions below 1990 levels by 2020. This consists of a dual obligation: achieving 40% domestic cuts and providing international mitigation investment between €150 billion and €450 billion per year by 2020.
• The mitigation scenario explicitly excludes several energy and carbon strategies: nuclear power (due to safety and cost), biofuels (due to land-use changes and limited emission reductions), carbon capture and storage (as it is unproven and may lock in coal-fired power), and offsetting via the Clean Development Mechanism or North-South emissions trading.
• Achieving these targets requires a radical energy shift, specifically increasing the share of wind in the generation mix from 3.3% in 2010 to 22% in 2020 and 55% in 2050. Overall renewable energy's share of primary energy would rise from 10% in 2010 to 71% in 2050, while primary energy requirements drop from 71,000 Petajoules (PJ) in 2010 to 21,000 PJ in 2050.
• Significant lifestyle and behavioural changes are necessary, including reducing the share of trips made by car from 75% in 2005 to 43% by 2050, and switching 80% of intra-European flights under 1000km to rail by 2050. These changes, along with less meat-intensive diets and smaller homes, would result in per capita emissions of 1 metric tonne CO2 equivalent per year by 2050.
• The implementation costs for the 40% scenario are estimated at €1.94 trillion, or approximately 2% of Europe's discounted cumulative GDP between 2010 and 2020. This is described as small compared to the costs of inaction, which are estimated at 5% to over 20% of global GDP.
• The study recommends a holistic 'climate protection framework' for the EU, including binding targets for renewable energy and energy savings, a carbon tax, and the phase-out of oil, coal, and nuclear power. It also suggests national mechanisms to sanction government departments or regions that fail to meet targets, and an EU-wide compliance mechanism for member states.

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} }