2040 climate target: Council gives final green light, Commission publishes public consultations

During the JHA Council configuration meeting held on 5 March 2026, the Regulation aiming to amend the European Climate Law was adopted as an ‘A’ item (without debate).

22 Member States voted in favour of the adoption of the Regulation, with Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia voting against the measure, and Belgium abstaining.

The Council published a press release to highlight the milestone and underline the key figures of the measure, such as the 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for 2040 compared to 1990 levels, and the use of high-quality international credits from 2036.

This concludes the formal procedure for adoption by both co-legislators. The Regulation will now be published in the EU Official Journal before it enters into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has published 2 related public consultations with a deadline of 4 May 2026:

National targets and flexibilities in the EU climate policy framework after 2030 – review

Legal framework for the possible use of international carbon credits towards the 2040 EU climate law target