The upcoming EU leaders’ summit is facing mounting pressure to adopt ambitious climate targets for 2040, with Greenpeace Germany directly appealing to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to champion a bolder approach. Martin Kaiser, executive director of Greenpeace Germany, emphasized that the summit represents a crucial opportunity for Merz to demonstrate a genuine commitment to climate action and to safeguard European populations from escalating extreme weather events. Given Germany’s position as the EU’s largest member state, Merz’s leadership is paramount.
The European Commission’s initial proposal, aiming for a 90% reduction in emissions by 2040 relative to 1990 levels, remains contentious. Previous attempts to secure approval at the environmental ministers’ meeting on September 18th were deferred due to resistance originating from Germany and France, effectively missing the deadline for submitting the EU’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as mandated by the Paris Agreement. This failure risks undermining the EU’s credibility on the international stage.
Greenpeace warns that a failure to establish a robust 2040 climate goal prior to the upcoming World Climate Conference would send a perilous signal, jeopardizing global climate efforts. To achieve the pledged 90% emissions reduction outlined in the German coalition agreement, Kaiser asserts that Merz must cease his public opposition to the EU’s ban on new combustion engine vehicles. He further argued that this stance prioritizes the short-term gains of the internal combustion engine industry over the fundamental rights of future generations.
The urgency of the situation is underscored by legal precedents. In 2021, the German Federal Constitutional Court ruled that the rapid consumption of Germany’s allotted carbon budget posed a significant infringement on the freedoms of future generations. The European Court of Human Rights issued a similar verdict in 2024, setting a 1.5-degree Celsius limit as a benchmark. A recent advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice in July 2025 highlights the necessity of factoring in historical emissions. Currently, the German Federal Constitutional Court is reviewing a constitutional complaint questioning whether even more stringent climate targets are now required, reflecting a growing legal and societal demand for accelerated climate action.