GreenergyDaily

Nov. 5, 2025

European Union member states clinched a preliminary deal to reduce emissions by 90% through 2040 compared with 1990 levels, Bloomberg reported.

The breakthrough was reached after more than 15 hours of negotiations between environment ministers that started on Tuesday morning in Brussels, according to people with knowledge of the discussions.

"We believe we have the basis for a political deal," said a spokesperson for Denmark, which chaired the meeting as the holder of a rotating EU presidency. "We expect to formally conclude a deal when we resume in a few hours." Ministers will reconvene at 7:45 a.m. Brussels time on Wednesday.

A key element of the EU's agreement during Tuesday's talks was a push to increase the use of international credits generated under Article 6 of the Paris accord, the people said. The limit will be increased to 5% of the bloc's baseline net emissions in 1990, compared with the 3% originally proposed by the European Commission.

Use of the credits would start with a five-year pilot phase in 2031, five years earlier than sought by the commission, and won't be limited to sectors outside the EU carbon market.

Additional concessions were offered during the negotiations on Tuesday, the people said. They include a one-year delay to a new carbon market for transport and heating fuels to 2028.