EU Council agrees position on amendment to European climate law

The Council of the European Union (EU) announced on Wednesday that member states had reached an agreement on amending the European climate law and approved updated 2035 emission-reduction targets for the EU and member states.

According to the document, the Council maintained the European Commission's proposal for an intermediate climate target for 2040 of a 90 percent reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels.

The document sets out the Council's position for subsequent negotiations with the European Parliament that will shape the final text of the legislation.

It clarifies some areas of flexibility included in the Commission's proposal and introduces a biennial assessment to track progress towards intermediate targets.

On the same day, the Council also approved an updated nationally determined contribution (NDC) of the EU and member states, which will be submitted ahead of COP30 in Brazil.

The NDC reiterates the EU's goal of achieving a net reduction of 55 percent in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and acknowledges the agreement reached within the Council on a net emissions reduction target of 90 percent by 2040, compared to 1990. Based on this target, the NDC introduces an indicative contribution of 66.25 percent to 72.5 percent for 2035 on the path towards carbon neutrality by 2050.

Adopted in 2021, the European climate law sets a climate neutrality target by 2050 and a 2030 objective of reducing net emissions by at least 55 percent compared to 1990 levels. The European Commission put forward a proposal in July to amend the law to set a 2040 target.

EU Council agrees position on amendment to European climate law

EU Council agrees position on amendment to European climate law

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday presided over a State Council executive meeting that studied work on building a unified national market and reviewed and approved a plan for the development of a modern emergency response system during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

Noting that building a unified national market is essential to advancing high-quality development, the meeting called for deepening institutional frameworks in areas such as property rights protection, market access, fair competition, social credit and market exit mechanisms.

The meeting also urged efforts to advance high-standard connectivity of market infrastructure to facilitate smooth economic circulation and effectively reduce logistics costs across society.

Emergency management is critical to protecting people's lives and property, the meeting said. It called for accelerating the development of a modern emergency response system, deepening reform and innovation in emergency management, and improving coordinated response mechanisms.

Efforts should be made to strengthen risk prevention at the source, enhance monitoring, forecasting and early warning, and accelerate a shift in governance toward proactive prevention, according to the meeting.

A draft revision of the Law on the People's Bank of China was also discussed and approved in principle at the meeting, which decided to submit the draft to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation.

Chinese premier chairs State Council executive meeting