HAVET & VANHUFFEL – Association d’avocats
The European Parliament has definitively approved, on 10 February 2026, the objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union by 90% by 2040 compared to 1990 levels.
Members of the European Parliament endorsed a political agreement with the European Council on amendments to the Climate Law.
In summary, the text provides for:
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a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 compared to 1990 levels;
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the introduction of certain flexibilities regarding how the target may be achieved (5 percentage points of net emissions may come from international carbon credits from partner countries; the possibility of using permanent carbon removals to offset emissions that are difficult to reduce; increased flexibility within sectors; a one-year postponement, to 2027, of the introduction of a new emissions trading system, known as ETS2 in the EU);
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a biennial reassessment by the Commission of progress made toward achieving the target, taking into account updated scientific data, technological developments, and the state of the EU’s industrial competitiveness and, depending on this assessment, a proposal by the Commission to amend EU climate legislation — including the 2040 target — or the adoption of additional measures to strengthen the support framework in order to preserve European competitiveness, prosperity, and social cohesion.
The Council must still formally approve the text, which will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
For more information, please follow the link: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/fr/press-room/20260205IPR33620/loi-climat-objectif-reduire-les-emissions-europeennes-de-90-a-l-horizon-2040.
To access the text adopted by the European Parliament, follow the link: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-10-2026-0031_FR.html.