The European Union indicated its intention to target a 66.25–72.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 compared with 1990 levels under the Paris Agreement. This statement of intent, approved ahead of the U.N. climate summit in November (COP30), was endorsed by all 27 member states. While it outlines the bloc’s post-2030 trajectory, it does not yet constitute the EU’s official nationally determined contribution (NDC). Instead, it lays the groundwork for the EU’s formal submission to the United Nations. 

On Track for 2030 
The EU reaffirmed its binding target of at least a 55% emissions reduction by 2030 and reiterated its goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Officials confirmed that the bloc is on track to meet the 2030 target and will continue to follow a science-based approach.  

Not Yet Binding 
Although the new 2035 range signals ambition, it is not legally binding. The statement will not be entered into the U.N. registry or included in the synthesis report; rather, it serves as a political marker for the forthcoming EU NDC due before COP30. The Danish presidency of the Council and the European Commission will submit the statement to the U.N. climate body and its compliance committee. It will also help shape the EU’s position at the U.N. Secretary-General’s Climate Summit in New York on September 24, alongside the General Assembly. 

Long-Term Pathway 
The indicative 2035 target aligns with the EU’s 2030 and 2050 goals and a proposed 2040 target still under discussion. In July, the European Commission proposed an amendment to the EU Climate Law to make the 2040 goal legally binding, drawing on advice from the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change and a detailed carbon budget assessment. However, environment ministers reviewed the draft in September without reaching an agreement, leaving the matter for discussion at the European Council meeting in October. 

Background 
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, which requires parties to update or submit new NDCs every five years. NDCs outline each country’s plans to reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts. The EU submits a single NDC on behalf of all member states, filing its first intended NDC in 2015 and updating it in 2020 to include a 55% cut by 2030, later reinforced through the “Fit for 55” legislative package. 

Officials emphasized that the upcoming NDC will reflect progression, as mandated by the Paris Agreement. The statement of intent thus signals the EU’s continued ambition and represents the first step toward defining a 2035 pathway consistent with climate neutrality. 

Stay ahead in your compliance journey with smart, sustainable solutions from Global PCCS. For more insights and updates, visit us and power your progress with purpose.