Greta Thunberg was handed an ideal birthday present as the climate campaigner turns 21 today after the EU Commission put forward plans to announce a new target for greenhouse gas emissions reduction next month.
However, there is some concern member states will not be able to meet the radical targets.
The European Commission is set to announce a proposal for a 2040 climate target that could see member states pledge to cut net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to just 10 per cent of 1990 levels.
But there are signs that some governments are struggling to reach existing targets set for the end of this decade.
Greta Thunberg gets best birthday present as European Commission announces new greenhouse gas emissions target
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The new climate action commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, has committed to the target.
He promised MEPs during his confirmation hearing in October that the EU executive would "explore" the political option of suggesting "lifestyle changes including dietary changes" to achieve the target.
However, member states are already struggling to meet the 2030 targets for energy savings, renewable energy use, and overall emissions reduction.
At an environment ministers’ gathering in December, the Commission published a damning assessment of national climate and energy plans (NECPs) submitted to date.
The Commission foundcurrent measures would lead to a reduction of 51 per cent, four points short of the 2030 target.
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European Commissioner for Climate Action of the European Union Wopke Hoekstra,
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A separate report published by the European Environment Agency on December 18 also raised doubts about governments’ commitment and countries’ capacities to meet a broader range of EU environment policy targets.
The target for reducing energy consumption was "very unlikely to be achieved" according to the report.
An EU diplomat told Euronews: "Some member states are calling for high ambition, while others raised the importance of just transition, realistic targets and maintaining public support."
The EU executive is expected to launch the process to establish a 2040 climate target on February 6 following the restating of the Paris Agreement, with the ambition of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg joins an anti-oil protest outside the Intercontinental Hotel on October 17, 2023 in London
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The 21-year-old Swedish activist has been critical of recent climate deals, including the one at the recent Cop28 in Dubai, which she has described as "a stab in the back".
She told Reuters: "This text is toothless and it is nowhere even close to being sufficient to keep us within the 1.5-degree limit.
"It is a stab in the back for those most vulnerable."