World News: EU Moves to Extend Climate Goals --- Bloc proposes 90% cut in emissions by 2040, Compared With 1990 Levels

“The European Union is pushing ahead with an ambitious new target for cutting greenhouse-gas emissions, signaling a growing divide between the U.S. and the rest of the industrialized world.

 

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, on Wednesday said it wants emissions in the bloc to decrease 90% by 2040 compared with 1990 levels.

 

 The commission's previous goal was for emissions to fall 55% by 2030.

 

The proposal comes as the Trump administration has embraced fossil fuels and is pushing Congress to pass legislation that would slash federal government support for wind farms, solar panels, hydrogen production and other clean technologies.

 

America's economic rivals believe clean energy can drive economic growth. China has thrown its might behind the strategy and is producing more solar panels, electric vehicles and other clean technologies than the rest of the world combined.

 

Japan, Canada and Australia are also pushing ahead with ambitious plans to slash emissions.

 

Europe's 2040 target signals that it plans to cut greenhouse gases more sharply than much of the rest of the industrialized world. But European manufacturers might struggle to keep pace with their larger Chinese competitors.

 

The EU could impose tariffs on Chinese clean technology to help its manufacturers, but that could slow the green transition and make it more costly.

 

The commission's new proposal comes as Europe endures a record-breaking heat wave. Europe is the fastest-warming continent, the World Meteorological Organization said in April.

 

"It makes sense from an economic, security and geopolitical standpoint, to make sure that we stay the course on climate," said Wopke Hoekstra, the EU's climate commissioner. "It is about protecting our people from extreme weather events and from global warming."

 

Still, the EU has relaxed some climate rules in recent years. Deforestation regulation was delayed by a year following opposition, and EU lawmakers pushed back the implementation of a law requiring companies to trace the climate and human-rights impact of their operations.

 

Some businesses in the EU are struggling with high energy costs and slumping markets. The commission's proposal would allow 3% of the reduction to come from the purchase of carbon credits, a move welcomed by business groups but criticized by some environmentalists.

 

"It is most important to be nondogmatic about how to reach success," Hoekstra said.

 

Europe also is under pressure from the Trump administration to curb environmental rules Washington considers to be unfair barriers to trade. Trump has been pressing Europe to buy huge quantities of liquefied natural gas from the U.S., a move that could threaten the bloc's climate goals.

 

EU trade officials are in Washington this week for talks with the Trump administration. They hope the discussions will lead to a short, framework agreement before July 9, when Trump has threatened to increase tariffs on the EU to 50%.” [1]

 

1. World News: EU Moves to Extend Climate Goals --- Bloc proposes 90% cut in emissions by 2040, Compared With 1990 Levels. Dalton, Matthew; Kim Mackrael.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 03 July 2025: A16.