The EU’s New 2035 NDC and the Council’s Position on the 2040 Climate Target Adopted

The Council of the European Union adopted, on 5 November 2025, the Council’s position on the interim 2040 climate target—which will amend the European Climate Law—and on the 2035 greenhouse gas emission target forming part of the European Union’s updated nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.

In this context, EU environment ministers endorsed the Council’s general approach on the amendment to the European Climate Law, which sets a legally binding intermediate target for the European Union to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90% by 2040.

According to the Council’s decision, the European Commission’s proposal to reduce GHG emissions by 90% by 2040 and to introduce a set of flexibilities has been largely maintained. In addition, ministers agreed that, as of 2036, high-quality international carbon credits could contribute up to 5% towards achieving the 2040 target.

The Council also agreed that permanent carbon removals should play a role within the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to compensate for hard-to-abate emissions, and that enhanced flexibility across and within sectors and instruments should be ensured.

On the same date, the Council approved the updated nationally determined contribution (NDC) of the European Union and its Member States under the Paris Agreement. The new NDC sets out an indicative contribution of 66.25% to 72.5% emission reductions by 2035, as part of the EU’s pathway towards achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

The updated NDC of the EU is expected to be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ahead of COP30, which will be held in Brazil from 10 to 21 November 2025.

For more information:

Commission Press Corner

https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/revised-waste-framework-directive-enters-force-2025-10-16_en