2040 Climate Target: How Macron is Holding Back the European Union

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The Commission hoped to reach an agreement on Thursday, September 18, on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90% within fifteen years. But France and Germany oppose this timetable. This is an unfortunate signal on the eve of COP30 in Brazil and the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement.

Paris, awaiting compatibility with industrial competitiveness, opposes the September 18 agreement. Here in Lanester, Morbihan, in May 2025. (Fred Tanneau/AFP)

What's France up to? For months, the European Union has been stalling over its "2040 climate target," and it's an understatement to say that Paris bears a heavy share of the responsibility. Since the beginning of the year, the 27 have been at loggerheads over the Commission's proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared to 1990 levels within fifteen years.

The issue is no small matter: the 2040 target will be included in the European climate law, a pillar of the

European Union COP30 in Belèm Global warming