BRUSSELS: The European Union will set new climate targets for 2035 and 2040 ahead of the COP30 summit in Brazil this November, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday, after the bloc missed a United Nations deadline earlier this month.

Von der Leyen announced the plan in a video message to an EU event in Brussels, stressing that the commitments—known as nationally determined contributions under UN rules—would be ready in time for the high-profile negotiations in Belem. Other major economies, including China, submitted their targets by the UN deadline.

The move highlights the EU’s challenge of balancing ambition with internal divisions. Several member states, including France, Germany and Poland, have urged that the targets be debated at a late October summit, leaving only weeks to finalize positions before COP30. A senior Polish official acknowledged uncertainty, saying it was unclear if agreement could be reached in time.

Von der Leyen acknowledged the political challenges, saying Europe must show flexibility but remain firm on its overall trajectory. “The world has changed. Global competition is fierce and not always fair,” she said. “We need more flexibility, more pragmatism, but by staying the course, we provide stability for workers, clarity for businesses, and certainty for investors.”

She said the European Union was cutting bureaucratic hurdles for businesses, investing in power grids, and ensuring consumers would see benefits from cheaper renewable energy.

The announcement comes as economic strains, a renewed focus on defense spending, and shifting political winds—particularly in the US—have complicated climate policy worldwide. Analysts say COP30 will be a critical test of whether major economies remain committed to climate action.

Europe’s climate strategy, long seen as a global benchmark, will now depend on whether its member states can bridge their divisions and deliver new targets before the summit in November.

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New climate targets for EU by COP30 summit, Von der Leyen says