【Text by Observer Net, Xiong Chaoran】 Despite increasing opposition from some member states to green policies, on October 23 local time, EU leaders agreed to push for the 2040 emission reduction target and hope to finalize it before the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change next month.

Reuters reported that day that the EU is striving to adopt a new goal, which is to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, in order to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 — a crucial step according to scientists to avoid the most severe impacts of global warming. The 2040 emission reduction target aims to keep the EU on track with its existing legal constraints, which include a 55% reduction by 2030 and ultimately achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

However, in order to gain support for the 2040 climate target, European Commission President von der Leyen once again cited China before the meeting of leaders, claiming that the transition to a clean economy is an opportunity for Europe to revitalize its industry and reduce dependence on Chinese imports, as China holds a dominant position in the manufacturing of technologies such as batteries and solar panels.

In a letter seen by Reuters on October 20, von der Leyen stated: "This is a major business opportunity for Europe. To seize this opportunity, we need to be resolute and work tirelessly to counter our competitors, first of all China."

On October 22, 2025, in Strasbourg, France, the European Parliament held a plenary session in Strasbourg. Von der Leyen spoke. IC Photo

From October 23 to 24 local time, EU heads of state and government leaders attended the EU Autumn Summit in Brussels, Belgium.

According to reports, on October 23 local time, EU leaders agreed to continue pushing forward the 2040 emission reduction target, but left the specific details for approval at a meeting of ministers on November 4.

Reuters said that the approval of this target is a difficult task, as the leaders have not yet resolved some key issues, including the proportion of foreign carbon credit purchases that countries can use to meet the 90% emission reduction target.

German Chancellor Merkel said: "No one among us questions the goal of climate protection. We all agree that this goal must be combined with the competitiveness of European industry."

Additionally, EU leaders also agreed to set several conditions for the target to reflect the concerns of some member states about how to fund the low-carbon transition while dealing with the Ukraine-Russia conflict, defense priorities, and revitalizing businesses.

EU leaders stated in a joint summit declaration that the 2040 target should include a "review clause" to allow for potential weakening in the future. Some countries, including Poland, believe this clause is necessary in case green technology development falls short of expectations or economic conditions hinder the investments needed to achieve climate goals.

More affluent western and northern European countries, which have higher usage rates of electric vehicles and renewable energy than poorer EU countries, appear more confident. However, these countries also hope for more flexible targets, reflecting their own concerns, including forests struggling to absorb sufficient carbon dioxide emissions due to issues like wildfires.

Leaders also requested that if forests perform poorly in absorbing carbon dioxide, other industries should not be forced to accelerate emission reductions to meet the 2040 climate target.

Last month, the EU missed the deadline to submit its 2035 climate goals to the UN, and is now working hard to approve the target before COP30 on November 6-7.

Reuters noted that despite worsening extreme weather around the world, positive actions taken by countries to address climate change are weakening. Especially in the United States, the president has abolished multiple emission reduction measures.

The focus of the EU leaders' discussions was on so-called "favorable conditions" — financing and supporting policies that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without causing increases in people's energy bills, while helping businesses cope with competitive pressures from China and tariff pressures from the US.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said that at least for the 2030 target, he expects the EU to stick to its climate goals. He added: "But we must seriously consider how to make these goals still feasible for citizens and businesses."

According to reports, the EU has relaxed several sustainability policies this year, trying to suppress political backlash from EU governments and trade partners such as the United States and Qatar.

Previously, a letter obtained by the Financial Times on October 22 local time showed that U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Qatari Deputy Minister of Energy Affairs Saad al-Kaabi had jointly written to warn the EU — the EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) poses a "survival threat" to the growth, competitiveness, and resilience of the European economy, and that its trade, investment, and energy supply would be damaged if not withdrawn.

"This situation occurs at a critical moment, our countries and companies are not only striving to maintain, but also significantly increasing the reliable supply of liquefied natural gas to the EU," the U.S. and Qatar stated in the letter, believing that EU legislators will begin discussing these rules earliest on October 24 local time, which could harm their LNG export business to the EU. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, LNG has become a lifeline for the EU.

The letter stated that this EU regulation could also harm the latest trade agreement between the EU and the U.S. reached in July, which requires EU member states to purchase $75 billion worth of American energy products by the end of 2028.

"In addition to direct energy security risks, CSDDD also threatens trade and investment in almost all EU partner economies, and its implementation could endanger existing and future investments, jobs, and the fulfillment of recent trade agreements."

The Financial Times believes that the intervention of the U.S. and Qatar marks the emergence of a "major rift" between two major fossil fuel-producing countries and the EU, which has been trying to accelerate the transition to cleaner energy.

Currently, about 16% of the EU's natural gas comes from the U.S., and 4% from Qatar. On October 20 local time, EU energy ministers agreed to gradually phase out Russian gas imports, which account for 19%, by the end of 2027, making the EU urgently seek alternative sources.

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