EU's Ambitious 2040 Climate Target and Farming Compromise

The European Commission has recommended a 90 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, but the proposal has faced criticism for its reliance on carbon capture and removal technologies and the omission of a clear plan to phase out oil and gas. The plan also includes a strategy to store 280 million metric tons of captured carbon dioxide annually by 2040, but the feasibility and cost of such technologies remain uncertain. The proposal is an interim goal following the EU's commitment to slash emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050, aligning with the Paris Agreement's goals.