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National Climate Action
Climate and energy targets are agreed by Member States at EU level, but national climate action is key to meeting them.
Through their 10-year National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), Member States set out a roadmap on how they want to contribute to the EU's binding targets to ensure energy security, promote energy efficiency, develop renewable energy and take the path to climate-neutrality.
These NECPs are complemented by 30-year national long-term strategies (LTSs) which should contribute to the EU reaching climate neutrality by 2040 and helping hold the increase in the global average temperature to 1.5°C.
Together, NECPs and long-term strategies are key planning tools for national climate action, set by the EU climate and energy Governance Regulation. Thanks to them, the EU is able to monitor the progress made at Union level towards ensuring a climate neutral EU, which is binding in the EU climate law adopted in 2021.
WWF works in Brussels and through its National Offices to ensure robust national climate action and is calling for:
Why it matters
Through their 10-year National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), Member States set out a roadmap on how they want to contribute to the EU's binding targets to ensure energy security, promote energy efficiency, develop renewable energy and take the path to climate-neutrality.
These NECPs are complemented by 30-year national long-term strategies (LTSs) which should contribute to the EU reaching climate neutrality by 2040 and helping hold the increase in the global average temperature to 1.5°C.
Together, NECPs and long-term strategies are key planning tools for national climate action, set by the EU climate and energy Governance Regulation. Thanks to them, the EU is able to monitor the progress made at Union level towards ensuring a climate neutral EU, which is binding in the EU climate law adopted in 2021.
What WWF is doing
WWF works in Brussels and through its National Offices to ensure robust national climate action and is calling for:
- Adequate EU-level targets, including a 65 % cut in gross emissions by 2030 and EU-wide climate neutrality (zero net emissions) by 2040
- All Member States to set a national climate neutrality target.
- Member States to involve their citizens to ensure good public participation in the drafting of the NECPs and LTSs in every Member State.
- A transparent and rigorous assessment of progress and of whether EU and national measures are consistent with climate goals
Latest reports
The 2040 Horizon: Assessing The EU’S Climate Targets and Policies against 1.5°C Scenarios (February 2025)
pdf 5.14 MBTargeting Change: the EU’s 2040 Climate Target
pdf 3.59 MBUpdate on EU Member States' national Long-Term Strategies
pdf 1.07 MBPolicy consistency for climate – The EU case (October 2023)
pdf 497 KBHow to make NECPs fit for the climate emergency?
pdf 171 KB'Where did all the money go?' - EU ETS revenues report 2022 (November 2022)
pdf 3.42 MBContacts
Michael Sicaud-Clyet
Policy Officer, Climate Governance
+32 493 52 46 05
Florian Cassier
Communications Officer
+32 479 33 92 11
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Targetting Change
The EU's 2040 Climate Target
The EU is about to set its 2040 climate targets. On 6 February 2024, the European Commission published a communication proposing a 90% net greenhouse gas emissions reduction. However, given the importance of the climate crisis, this figure is not ambitious enough.
The year 2024 is set to be the hottest on record, with global sea levels rising by 21 cm since 1900. From 2011 to 2020, global temperatures were already 1.09°C above pre-industrial levels, and Europe saw a rise of over 2°C from 2013 to 2022. Current policies could lead to a 3.1°C global temperature increase, and between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause around 250,000 additional deaths annually.
These figures underscore the urgent need for stronger climate action addressed in this position paper.
© iStock / WWF
2040 Horizon
Assessing the EU's Climate Targets and Policies against 1.5°C Scenarios
This report evaluates the 90% net greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2040, proposed by the Europen Commission in their impact assesment. WWF compared this assesment against 1.5°C compatible scenarios.
While the European Commission’s impact assessment for the EU’s 2040 climate target marks a significant step forward in Europe’s efforts to mitigate climate change. However, it still overlooks the additional reductions needed to reflect the EU’s historical emissions and fair share of the global effort, as well as the additional cumulative emissions resulting from a lack of ambition in the period to 2030.