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Energy, Climate change, Environment
Climate Action

European Climate Law

A small green plant sprouting from the pages of an open book, symbolizing the growth of environmental awareness and sustainability as promoted by the European Climate Law
©Getty Images | krisanapong detraphiphat
European Climate Law

The European Climate Law writes into law the goal set out in the European Green Deal for Europe’s economy and society to become climate-neutral by 2050. The law also sets the intermediate target of reducing net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

Climate neutrality by 2050 means achieving net zero GHG emissions for EU Member States as a whole, mainly by cutting emissions, investing in clean technologies, and protecting the environment.

The law aims to ensure that all EU policies contribute to this goal and that all sectors of the economy and society play their part.

Objectives

  • Set the long-term direction of travel for meeting the 2050 climate neutrality objective through all policies, in a socially fair and cost-efficient manner
  • Set an ambitious EU 2030 target, placing Europe on a responsible path to climate neutrality
  • Create a system for monitoring progress and take further action if needed
  • Provide predictability for investors and other economic actors
  • Ensure that the transition to climate neutrality is irreversible

Key elements

The European Climate Law sets a legally binding target of net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. The EU institutions and the Member States are bound to take the necessary measures at EU and national level to meet the target, considering the importance of promoting fairness and solidarity among Member States.

Intermediate targets

The Climate Law also addresses the necessary intermediate steps to meet the 2050 climate neutrality target:

2030 climate target
  • Based on a comprehensive impact assessment, the EU has set 2030 climate target of reducing net GHG emissions by at least 55% compared to levels in 1990. The 2030 climate target is now included in the Climate Law.
  • In 2023, the EU adopted a series of proposals, known as the ‘Fit for 55’ package, which revised all relevant policy instruments necessary to achieve the 2030 climate target.
2040 climate target
  • The Climate Law also includes a process for setting a 2040 climate target.
  • In February 2024, the Commission presented a Communication and detailed impact assessment launching the process of setting a 2040 climate target for the EU.
  • In July 2025, the Commission proposed an amendment to the Climate Law which would establish an EU climate target for 2040. The proposed target is a 90% reduction in net GHG emissions, compared to 1990 levels. The proposal has been submitted to the European Parliament and the Council for discussion and adoption under the ordinary legislative procedure.

Tracking progress

The Climate Law includes measures to keep track of progress and adjust our actions accordingly, based on existing systems such as:

Progress will be reviewed every five years, in line with the global stocktake exercise under the Paris Agreement.

Other key features

The Climate Law also includes:

  • a commitment to negative emissions after 2050
  • a commitment to engage with sectors to prepare sector-specific roadmaps charting the path to climate neutrality in different areas of the economy
  • stronger provisions on adaptation to climate change
  • strong coherence across Union policies with the climate neutrality objective
  • the establishment of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change to provide independent scientific advice
  • the recognition of the need to enhance the EU's carbon sink through a more ambitious LULUCF regulation – the Commission made a related proposal in July 2021, which then entered into force in May 2023

Milestones

Preparation

The Commission conducted extensive analysis and stakeholder consultation in preparation of its strategic vision for a climate-neutral EU published in November 2018. This was followed by an EU-wide debate on the vision.

A high-level public conference on 28 January 2020 provided a further opportunity for open, public stakeholder debate on the European Climate Law before its finalisation and adoption.

The public also had the possibility to provide feedback on the roadmap for the legislative proposal, with nearly 1000 contributions.

Formal adoption

The European Climate Law was published in the Official Journal on 9 July 2021 and entered into force on 29 July 2021.

Implementation

In 2023, for the first time, the Commission assessed progress towards the climate neutrality and adaptation objectives, as required under the Climate Law. The findings were published as part of the 2023 Climate Action Progress Report and in a separate Staff Working Document on national progress with implementing adaptation.

Although greenhouse gas emissions continue to fall and there are encouraging signs of action on the ground, the Commission’s assessment is that current progress towards the EU’s climate neutrality objective appears to be insufficient. Action is most needed in areas which still require significant reductions in emissions (e.g. buildings, transport), where progress is too slow (e.g. agriculture), or where, in recent years, there has been a deteriorating trend, as is the case for the carbon sink (e.g. land use, land-use change, and forestry).

The European Union has made broad progress on adaptation to climate change, in particular through the ongoing implementation of the EU Adaptation Strategy. However, progress has been uneven across areas.

The assessment of progress on adaptation at the national level shows that Member States need to take significantly more action to adapt to climate change – for  instance, on governance, funding, risk assessments, nature-based solutions, as well as monitoring, reporting and evaluation in order to reduce  their social and economic vulnerabilities to the intensifying climate-related risks.

Based on the assessment, the Commission issued recommendations to Member States under the European Climate Law in December 2023. Member States that submitted draft updated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) in time for the Commission’s EU-wide assessment of the draft NECPs receive recommendations on:

  • the draft updated NECPs
  • the consistency of their measures with the EU’s climate neutrality objective
  • the consistency of their measures with ensuring progress on adaptation under the European Climate Law.

Member States which did not submit a draft updated NECP or submitted one several months after the deadline only receive recommendations under the European Climate Law.

Commission recommendations: progress on climate neutrality and adaptation

These are recommendations under the European Climate Law for Member States which did not submit a draft updated NECP in time for the Commission recommendations in December 2023. You can find all recommendations on NECPs on the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) page.

Documentation

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