The revision of European climate legislation to include an intermediate target for 2040 and the preparations for COP30 in Brazil, combined with the climate emergency, are the environmental highlights of a Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, beginning its term on 1 July 2025 and which aims to make climate action a priority that will permeate all European policies.
The Danish Presidency wants to make progress on the major issues relating to the climate transition, such as setting a climate target for 2040 (see EUROPE 13609/1) and preparing the European contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement for 2035 (see EUROPE 13661/7). The adoption of a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 90% by 2040 is already supported by Copenhagen.
“The Danish Presidency is in a good position to deliver a crucial breakthrough at a time when climate impacts are intensifying”, Jens Mattias Clausen, Director of the EU Division of the Danish think-tank CONCITO, told journalists.
An extraordinary Environment Council is scheduled for 18 September, on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly. This meeting will be decisive for trying to reach a political agreement on the 2040 climate target, an essential step before the submission of the new European contribution to the Paris Agreement.
Denmark is also looking forward to a successful outcome to the discussions on the EU’s next contribution to the Paris Agreement (NDC 2035), which should reflect the new 2040 target and be submitted before COP30.
“After the US withdrawal, all eyes are on Europe”, Linda Kalcher, Director of the think-tank Strategic Perspectives, reminded journalists.
Furthermore, the future Presidency of the EU Council will have to strike the right balance between simplifying regulations and maintaining environmental ambition. The ‘omnibus’ supporting a reduction in sustainability reporting obligations (see EUROPE 13652/22) - notably through the directive on sustainability reporting, the directive on corporate due diligence and the regulation on the green taxonomy - is raising concerns among experts and civil society.
The Presidency maintains that it wants to adopt a “balanced” approach, without contradicting the foundations of the European framework. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)