Politicians make case for more ambitious climate target

Two groups of national and local politicians are separately pushing for the EU to commit to reducing its net climate change emissions to zero by 2050.

More than 200 mayors from across Europe signed a letter to EU political leaders, published on 7 May, urging them to commit to a long-term climate strategy to achieve a net zero emissions target. Existing EU targets only go as far as a 40 per cent reduction from 1990 emissions levels by 2030, which will not prevent catastrophic climate change.

“We are reminded of the inadequacy of our response to climate change, by the thousands of young people demonstrating each week on the streets of European cities—and around the world,” the letter said. “We cannot let the status quo jeopardise their future and those of millions of European citizens.”