Broad coalition to EU leaders: Deliver on an ambitious 2040 climate target through domestic action

Brussels, 11 June 2025 Today a coalition of 126 leading civil society organisations, academia and businesses from around the world have written to EU leaders to reject the idea of using international carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement in the upcoming EU 2040 climate target and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The signatories of the letter call for an ambitious domestic 2040 target, now.

The letter warns that opening the EU’s climate target to international offsets risks weakening domestic ambition, delaying the green transition, and undermining Europe’s global climate leadership. The signatories call on EU institutions to adopt a science-based, at least net 90% (preferably higher) domestic reduction target for 2040, in line with the advice of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC) and the European Commission Impact Assessment. 

“The EU has the means, responsibility and legal obligation to deliver its climate targets through domestic action,” said Chiara Martinelli, Director at Climate Action Network Europe. “Outsourcing emission reductions would weaken the EU’s economy, climate credibility, and diplomatic leadership.”

“Reckless reliance on international credits would weaken the EU’s 2040 climate target, contradict previous commitments and conflict with the science. Using international carbon offsets to meet future climate targets risks repeating past mistakes and will divert funds away from tackling the energy transition in Europe.” said Sabine Frank, Executive Director at Carbon Market Watch.

The letter highlights five key concerns with the inclusion of Article 6 credits in the 2040 target:

1. Weakened ambition: Relying on international offsets would lower the EU’s already insufficient domestic effort, contradicting the recent advice of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change.
2. Environmental and human rights risks: Article 6 rules lack robust safeguards. Early crediting deals have been marred by credibility issues and have had negative local impacts.
3. No substitute for real action: Offsets are not a valid alternative to deep domestic emissions cuts needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
4. Transactions are not climate finance: In line with UNFCCC rules, trading credits is a commercial transaction, not a financial commitment to climate-vulnerable countries.
5. High financial cost: Recurring purchases of offsets would divert significant public funds away from long-term investment in EU decarbonisation.
   

“International credits would send the wrong signal ahead of key UN climate deadlines and the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement” said Sven Harmeling, Head of Climate at CAN Europe. “Climate leadership means cutting emissions at home and successfully managing the energy and climate transition for the benefits of our societies.”

ENDS 

Notes to the Editor:

1. Read the letter in full: Open letter against international credits integration into the EU 2040 climate target and NDC
2. The full list of letter signatories so far can be seen here
3. Whilst the broad coalition calls for at least 90% net emission reductions by 2040 (relative to 1990 levels), some signatories, including CAN Europe, call for even higher levels of ambition (in CAN Europe’s case – 100% net emission reductions by 2040 at the latest).

For more information and media requests:

Tomas Spragg Nilsson, tomas.spraggnilsson@caneurope.org, +46 707 65 63 92