The Commission initially promised to propose a 90 percent emissions-cutting target for 2040, but has faced strong opposition from EU capitals and right-of-center European Parliament members. In response, Brussels is expected to offer “flexibilities” that would give countries more leeway in reaching the 90 percent goal.
One likely flexibility is including international carbon credits, a controversial scheme that would let EU countries finance emissions-cutting projects abroad and count any carbon reductions toward their domestic tallies.
During last year’s COP29 in Baku, countries agreed to launch an international carbon credits market under the framework of the Paris Agreement. But many of the rules that will regulate this market are still under negotiation, creating fears among some environmental NGOs that the system will lack teeth.
China, the world’s largest polluter, also has a special role to play in keeping alive the global climate campaign, the head of COP30 stressed. | Mark R. Cristino/EFE via EPA
Toni said Brazil is not opposed to EU countries using carbon credits, arguing they could help developing countries reduce their emissions.
Still, she said, it’s important to know “the details,” including how the EU can ensure “the integrity of carbon markets” and of the projects that credits would finance.
“At the end of the day,” she argued, what matters “is the amount of carbon that we can take out.”