EU advances towards 2030 climate targets with continued emissions cuts – climate.ec.europa.eu

Report on European Union Climate Action Progress and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary: Progress Towards 2030 Targets

A 2024 assessment indicates the European Union (EU) is progressing towards its 2030 climate objectives. This report outlines the key findings, focusing on the alignment of EU climate action with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Emission Reductions: Net greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 2.5% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Since 1990, the EU has achieved a total emission reduction of over 37%. This progress directly supports SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• Economic Growth: The reduction in emissions has occurred alongside a 71% growth in the EU’s economy since 1990, demonstrating a successful decoupling of economic activity from environmental impact and advancing SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• 2030 Target: The EU is on track to meet its target of a 55% emission reduction by 2030, contingent on the full implementation of existing and planned policies.

Sectoral Performance and SDG Contributions

Energy Sector Transformation (SDG 7 & SDG 13)

The energy sector is the primary contributor to emission reductions, underscoring a significant transition towards sustainable energy systems.

• Renewable energy sources have become the leading source of electricity production within the EU.
• This shift is a critical driver for achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and is fundamental to the overall success of SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Land Use and Agriculture (SDG 15)

The agriculture and Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sectors have also contributed positively to emission reductions, supporting SDG 15 (Life on Land) through more sustainable land management practices.

Transport Sector Challenges

Emissions from the transport sector, including domestic and international aviation and maritime, continued to increase. This trend presents a significant challenge to achieving climate neutrality and the objectives of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Policy Instruments Driving Sustainable Development

The Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)

The EU ETS has been instrumental in promoting sustainable industrial practices, directly contributing to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). It has driven a 50% reduction in emissions from the electricity, heat generation, and industrial manufacturing sectors compared to 2005 levels.

The Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR)

The ESR targets sectors such as transport, buildings, and agriculture, which are crucial for developing sustainable communities. It has resulted in a 20% reduction in emissions from these sectors since 2005, advancing SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Investment in a Low-Carbon and Resilient Future

Financial Commitments for Sustainable Goals

Achieving the EU’s climate and energy targets requires a substantial increase in investment, which is being mobilized to support a broad range of SDGs.

1. Annual energy-system investment must more than double to approximately EUR 565 billion between 2021 and 2030.
2. The EU’s long-term budget (2021-2027) has earmarked approximately EUR 662 billion for climate objectives.

This investment will foster a transition that supports SDG 7, SDG 8, SDG 9, and SDG 13 by boosting competitiveness, creating high-quality jobs, and strengthening economic and energy security.

Enhancing Climate Resilience and Adaptation (SDG 11 & SDG 13)

The EU is intensifying efforts to build climate resilience, a critical component of SDG 11 and SDG 13. The strategy involves creating an integrated framework to ensure that all investments consider future climate risks, thereby safeguarding infrastructure and communities.

International Leadership and Partnerships (SDG 17)

Global Climate Action and Finance

The EU continues to lead international climate efforts, demonstrating a strong commitment to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• In 2024, the EU and its Member States provided EUR 31.7 billion in international climate finance to support global partners.
• Ahead of COP30, the EU submitted a new nationally determined contribution (NDC) aiming for a 66.25% to 72.5% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 from 1990 levels.
• The EU actively supports partners worldwide in developing carbon-pricing systems, sharing policy expertise to accelerate global emissions reductions.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
     
     Explanation: The article states that the reduction in emissions was driven by the energy sector, “with renewables becoming the leading source of electricity production.” This directly supports the goal of increasing the share of renewable energy.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.4: Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation.
     
     Explanation: The article highlights that “Since 1990, the EU has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by over 37%… all while growing its economy by 71%.” This demonstrates a clear decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
     
     Explanation: The article mentions that the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) has helped to “drive down emissions from the electricity and heat generation and industrial manufacturing sectors by 50% compared to 2005 levels.” It also notes that meeting targets requires a “major scale-up in finance, with annual energy-system investment needing to more than double.” This points to the upgrading of industrial processes and energy infrastructure.

4. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
     
     Explanation: The article explicitly states that “The EU and its Member States are also stepping up their efforts on climate resilience and adaptation” and that the EU is working to “create an integrated framework for climate resilience.”
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
     
     Explanation: The article is centered on the EU’s climate policies, such as the “2030 emission reduction target of a 55% decrease,” the “European Climate Law,” the “Emissions Trading System (EU ETS),” and the submission of a “new nationally determined contribution.” These are all examples of integrating climate measures into policy and planning.
   • Target 13.a: Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries.
     
     Explanation: The article mentions that the EU and its Member States “continue to play a leading role in international climate action” by providing “EUR 31.7 billion in international climate finance in 2024.” This contributes to the global goal of climate finance mobilization for developing countries.

5. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.
     
     Explanation: The article notes that “the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector also contributed to emission reductions,” which is directly related to the sustainable management of land and forests to act as carbon sinks.

6. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources.
     
     Explanation: The article describes the EU’s role in “international climate action, working with partners to encourage ambitious action” and “supporting partners globally in developing strong carbon-pricing systems.” This demonstrates a commitment to global partnerships for achieving climate goals.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 7 (Target 7.2)

   • Indicator: The status of renewables as the “leading source of electricity production.” While not a specific percentage, it is a qualitative indicator of the share of renewable energy.

2. For SDG 8 (Target 8.4)

   • Indicator: The rate of change in greenhouse gas emissions versus the rate of GDP growth. The article provides specific figures: a 37% cut in emissions since 1990 alongside 71% economic growth.

3. For SDG 9 (Target 9.4)

   • Indicator: Reduction in emissions from key industrial sectors. The article specifies a “50% reduction compared to 2005 levels” in emissions from electricity, heat generation, and industrial manufacturing sectors under the EU ETS.

4. For SDG 13 (Targets 13.1, 13.2, 13.a)

   • Indicator (13.1): The development and implementation of national adaptation strategies. The article mentions the creation of “an integrated framework for climate resilience.”
   • Indicator (13.2): The existence and implementation of a nationally determined contribution (NDC) and long-term strategies. The article refers to the EU’s “2030 emission reduction target of a 55% decrease” and its “new nationally determined contribution.”
   • Indicator (13.a): The total amount of financial resources provided to developing countries for climate action. The article quantifies this as “EUR 31.7 billion in international climate finance in 2024.”

5. For SDG 15 (Target 15.2)

   • Indicator: The contribution of the LULUCF sector to net emission reductions. The article states that this sector “contributed to emission reductions.”

6. For SDG 17 (Target 17.16)

   • Indicator: The number of countries supported in developing specific policies. The article mentions the EU is “supporting partners globally in developing strong carbon-pricing systems.”

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: climate.ec.europa.eu