By Abdullahi Lukman
The European Union Commission has announced that the bloc is on course to meet its 2030 target of cutting emissions by 55 percent from 1990 levels.
The commission said the Union already reduced its net greenhouse gas emissions by 2.5 percent in 2024.
According to the EU’s annual Climate Action Progress Report released on Friday, total emissions have fallen by over 37 percent since 1990—rising to 39 percent when excluding international aviation and shipping—while the EU’s economy has grown by 71 percent in the same period.
The report attributes the latest reductions mainly to the energy sector, where renewable energy has become the dominant source of electricity production.
Other sectors such as agriculture and land use and forestry also contributed to the decline, though emissions from transport and aviation continue to rise.
The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) remain central to emission reduction efforts.
The ETS has cut emissions from power generation and industry by 50% since 2005, while the ESR has reduced emissions in transport, buildings, and agriculture by around 20 percent.
Meeting future climate goals will require significant investment, with annual energy-system spending expected to more than double to €565 billion through 2030.
The EU’s 2021–2027 budget allocates €662 billion to climate-related initiatives to boost competitiveness, create green jobs, and strengthen energy independence.
The report also highlights the bloc’s growing focus on climate resilience and adaptation, emphasizing support for regions most affected by climate hazards.
The EU is developing an integrated framework to ensure all future investments account for potential climate risks.
Internationally, the EU and its Member States provided €31.7 billion in climate finance in 2024 and submitted an updated commitment ahead of COP30 to cut emissions by 66.25 percent to 72.5 percent from 1990 levels.
Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, said the findings confirm that the EU is “on track to meet its 2030 climate target,” adding that Europe continues to show it is possible to pursue ambitious climate action while strengthening competitiveness and energy independence.
