With the 2030 Climate Target Plan, the Commission proposes to raise the EU's ambition on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to at least 55% below 1990 levels by 2030. This is a substantial increase compared to the existing target upwards from the previous target of at least 40%.

Raising the 2030 ambition now helps give certainty to policymakers and investors, so that decisions made in the coming years do not lock in emission levels inconsistent with the EU’s goal to be climate-neutral by 2050.

The new proposal delivers on the commitment made in the Communication on the European Green Deal to put forward a comprehensive plan to increase the European Union’s target for 2030 towards 55% in a responsible way. It is also in line with the Paris Agreement objective to keep the global temperature increase to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to keep it to 1.5°C.

The impact assessment accompanying the proposal prepares the ground for adapting climate and energy policies to help decarbonise the European economy. This including determining the future role of carbon pricing and its interaction with other policies.