The European Commission is delaying the release of the bloc’s 2040 climate target until “before summer” while Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra struggles to find support for the pledge to slash emissions.
Speaking to a small group of journalists on Thursday, Hoekstra confirmed POLITICO reporting that he has faced concerns from EU capitals and political groups in the European Parliament and discussed ways to water down the EU’s plan to cut emissions 90 percent below 1990 levels by 2040.
The Commission had originally promised to release a draft law in the first quarter of 2025.
“Clearly, we need a bit more time,” said Hoekstra, adding he would need “weeks or months” to find a majority for the legal proposal. He said he wanted to see it done “before summer.”
