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2050 long-term strategy

Striving to become the world's first climate-neutral continent by 2050.

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The EU aims to be climate-neutral by 2050 – an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. This objective is at the heart of the European Green Deal, and is a legally binding target thanks to the European Climate Law.

The transition to a climate-neutral society is an opportunity to build a better future for all, while leaving no one behind.

All parts of society and economic sectors will play a role – from the power sector to industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and forestry.

The EU can lead the way by investing in technological solutions, empowering citizens and ensuring action to support a smooth and just transition in key areas such as industrial policy, finance, and research.

The pursuit of climate neutrality is also in line with the EU’s commitment to global climate action under the Paris Agreement. The EU submitted its long-term strategy to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in March 2020.

National long-term strategies

EU Member States have developed national long-term strategies on how they plan to achieve the greenhouse gas emissions reductions needed to meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement and EU's climate neutrality objective.

The long-term strategies should be consistent with Member States’ integrated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) for the period 2021-30.

The governance regulation required Member States to submit their first national long-term strategies to the Commission by 1 January 2020.

The next strategies are due by 1 January 2029 and every 10 years thereafter. Member States should, where necessary, update their strategies every five years.

Documentation

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2019 - Going climate-neutral by 2050

• Going climate-neutral by 2050

2018 - Vision for a long-term EU strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions

• 28/11/2018 – A Clean Planet for all - A European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy
• 28/11/2018 – In-depth analysis accompanying the Communication
• 28/11/2018 – Press release: Commission calls for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050
• 28/11/2018 – Questions and Answers: Long-term strategy for Clean Planet for All
• 28/11/2018 – Factsheets on the vision:
  • Factsheet: Long-term strategy for greenhouse gas emissions reduction
  • Factsheet: Economic transition
  • Factsheet: Industrial transition
  • Factsheet: Societal transition
• 28/11/2018 – Factsheets on EU initiatives:
  • Putting the Financial Sector at the Service of the Climate
  • EU External Investment Plan - Opportunities for Africa and the EU Neighbourhood region
  • Urban Investment Support for Cities
  • Clean Energy for Islands Initiative
  • Structural Support Action for Coal and Carbon Intensive Regions
  • European Youth for Climate Action
  • Smart Finance for Smart Buildings Investment Facility
  • EU Rulebook for Investment in Energy Performance of Public Buildings
  • Investing in Clean Industrial Technologies
  • Clean, Connected and Competitive Mobility
• Supplementary information: data of the graphs presented in the in-depth analysis
• Background report: Industrial Innovation: Pathways to deep decarbonisation of Industry
  • Part 1: Technology Analysis
  • Part 2: Scenario analysis and pathways to deep decarbonisation
  • Part 3: Policy Implications
• Study: Review of technology assumptions for decarbonisation scenarios

2011 - Roadmap for a competitive low-carbon Europe

In 2011, the European Commission put forward a roadmap for a competitive low-carbon Europe by 2050. The roadmap presented possible action up to 2050 which could enable the EU to deliver greenhouse gas reductions in line with the 80 to 95% target agreed internationally in the context of necessary reductions by developed countries as a group. The roadmap outlined milestones towards the target, policy challenges, investment needs and opportunities in different sectors.

Key documents:

• 04/2012 - Behavioural Climate Change Mitigation Options and Their Appropriate Inclusion in Quantitative Longer Term Policy Scenarios

• Main Report
• Transport Domain Report
• Housing Domain Report
• Food Domain Report
• Technical Report on the appropriate inclusion of results of the analysis in model-based quantitative scenarios

• 08/03/2011 - COM (2011) 112: A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050
  • SEC (2011) 287: Evaluation of the online stakeholder consultation
  • SEC (2011) 288: Impact Assessment
  • SEC (2011) 289: Summary of the Impact Assessment
• 08/03/2011 - COM (2011) 109: Energy Efficiency Plan 2011
• 08/03/2011 - IP/11/272: Climate change: Commission sets out Roadmap for building a competitive low-carbon Europe by 2050
• 08/03/2011 - MEMO 11/150: Climate change: Questions and Answers on a Roadmap for moving to a low carbon economy in 2050
• 08/03/2011 - Factsheet
• 08/03/2011 - Citizen’s summary: EU plan – low-carbon economy by 2050
• 08/03/2011 - Roadmap 2050 presentation in some Member States
• 17/11/2010 - COM (2010) 677: Communication "Energy infrastructure priorities for 2020 and beyond – A blueprint for an integrated European energy network"
• 26/05/2010 - COM (2010) 265: Communication "Analysis of options to move beyond 20% greenhouse gas emission reductions and assessing the risk of carbon leakage"
• 04/02/2010 - European Council on energy, Presidency conclusions

Key documents

• 06/03/2020 - Long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategy of the EU and its Member States
• 28/11/2018 - COM (2018) 773 - A Clean Planet for all - A European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy
• In-depth analysis accompanying the Communication
• Press release: Commission calls for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050
• Questions and Answers: Long-term strategy for Clean Planet for All
• Factsheets:
  1. Factsheet: Long-term strategy for greenhouse gas emissions reduction
  2. Factsheet: Economic transition
  3. Factsheet: Industrial transition
  4. Factsheet: Societal transition
• Brochure: Going climate-neutral by 2050
• European Political Strategy Centre study: "10 Trends reshaping Climate and Energy"

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