Climate change is already affecting the whole world and we are increasingly experiencing extreme weather events such as prolonged droughts resulting in huge fires, heavy rains causing widespread flooding, and, in many parts of Europe, unseasonal and rapid weather fluctuations. Rapid climate change is leading to rising sea levels, more acidification of the oceans and less biodiversity.
Achieving carbon neutrality by the middle of the 21st century is essential to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius - the safe limit recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This target is also set in the Paris Agreement, signed by 195 countries, including the EU.
The EU is committed to an ambitious climate policy. As part of the Green Deal, the EU has set a target of becoming the first continent to absorb as much CO2 as it produces by 2050.
On 7 October 2020, the European Parliament endorsed the achievement of climate neutrality by 2050 and the target of reducing emissions by 60% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, which is more ambitious than the 55% proposed by the Commission.