EU carbon rules / Regulations / European Climate Law
In force Regulation Climate targets
European Climate Law
2050 climate neutrality, 2030 reduction of 55% (2040 net 90% reduction target added by 2026/667)
- Reference
- Regulation (EU) 2021/1119
- Key date
- 2021
- Applies to
- EU-wide target framework
01
Who the regulation applies to
This regulation applies to:
- The EU institutions and the Member States (must take the necessary measures at EU and national level to jointly achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and the binding targets of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% compared with 1990 by 2030 and by at least 90% by 2040)
- The European Commission (must regularly assess Member States' progress, review the consistency of EU and Member State measures, assess every 5 years and report to the European Parliament and the Council)
- Greenhouse gas emission sources and sinks within the scope of EU law (negative greenhouse gas emissions must be achieved after 2050)
Amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/667, which adds a binding target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 90% compared with 1990 by 2040 (of which 85% domestic reduction, with high-quality international carbon credits equivalent to at most 5% of 1990 net emissions allowed in 2036–2040).
The following provisions define its scope:
Article 1 — Subject matter and scope
This Regulation establishes a framework for the irreversible and gradual reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions by sources and enhancement of removals by sinks regulated in Union law.
This Regulation sets out a binding objective of climate neutrality in the Union by 2050 in pursuit of the long-term temperature goal set out in point (a) of Article 2(1) of the Paris Agreement, and provides a framework for achieving progress in pursuit of the global adaptation goal established in Article 7 of the Paris Agreement. This Regulation also sets out a binding Union target of a net domestic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for 2030.
This Regulation applies to anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of the greenhouse gases listed in Part 2 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.
02
What the regulation requires
| Duty | Trigger | Evidence | Timing |
Align with the EU 2030/2050 target pathway
The EU as a whole is to achieve a 55% net reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050; companies are indirectly bound through Member State policies. | Operating in the EU or exporting to the EU | Member State NECPs, sector transition pathways | Ongoing |
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Key provisions
Article 1(2) — Subject matter and scope
This Regulation sets out a binding objective of climate neutrality in the Union by 2050 in pursuit of the long-term temperature goal set out in point (a) of Article 2(1) of the Paris Agreement, and provides a framework for achieving progress in pursuit of the global adaptation goal established in Article 7 of the Paris Agreement. This Regulation also sets out a binding Union target of a net domestic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for 2030.
Article 2(1) — Climate-neutrality objective
Union-wide greenhouse gas emissions and removals regulated in Union law shall be balanced within the Union at the latest by 2050, thus reducing emissions to net zero by that date, and the Union shall aim to achieve negative emissions thereafter.
Article 4(1) — Intermediate Union climate targets
In order to reach the climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1), the binding Union 2030 climate target shall be a domestic reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions (emissions after deduction of removals) by at least 55 % compared to 1990 levels by 2030. ... the contribution of net removals to the Union 2030 climate target shall be limited to 225 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
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Industry dossiers covering this regulation