On the rise: 328 Mayors now calling for a peak in emissions next year

Joint letter against the background of discussions around a "net zero EU" by 2050


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Publication date

June 20, 2019

Momentum for a net zero EU by 2050 continues to grow. An incredible 328 mayors from across Europe have now signed the joint letter calling for a peak in emissions next year, halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Member states governments are moving faster than expected. As of writing 22 of the 28 EU member states have now signaled that they are willing to accept a target of net zero by 2050. The six remaining holdouts are Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania.

Pressure on the holdouts continues to grow ahead of this week’s European Council summit which will discuss the division of the top EU jobs (ECB, Presidencies of the Commission, Council and Parliament) and the transition to a carbon neutral EU.

There was also a powerful signal of support from Germany, who had been reluctant to agree to the 2050 target, when Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer wrote an op/ed in Wednesday’s Zeit Online entitled ‘We cannot go on living like this’.

We are now approaching the tail end of the adoption cycle. Early adopters have given way to the critical mass and there remains only the laggards to get on board. We will continue to push for the adoption of this necessary target.

Assuming the target is agreed, either at this week’s EU Council meeting or later this year, work begins on how to achieve this transformational goal. This is when cities will have their time to shine. Cities remain the best chance we have of delivering a shared energy transition – but the necessary support is absolutely vital. That is why we’ve outlined what cities need in our roadmap for new EU officials.