European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change, 2 June 2025

Scientific advice for amending the European Climate Law – Setting climate goals to strengthen EU strategic priorities

The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change calls on the European Union to maintain high climate ambition as it revises the European Climate Law to include a 2040 target. In the report ‘Scientific advice for amending the European Climate Law – Setting climate goals to strengthen EU strategic priorities’, the Advisory Board recommends a 90-95% net domestic greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2040 to support Europe’s long-term interests and reach climate neutrality by 2050.

Rising greenhouse gas emissions have already driven global temperatures up by 1.3–1.4 °C, fuelling extreme climate events and putting Earth systems on the brink of irreversible damage. As the EU prepares to set its 2040 climate target in law, the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change urges policymakers to act on scientific evidence and maintain momentum. Amid mounting geopolitical and economic pressures, sustained climate action is essential to underpin the structural transformations needed for Europe’s long-term prosperity, security, and resilience.