Campaigners take EU to court for “alarmingly off-track” climate targets

The non-governmental organisations (NGOs) argue that the European executive sets unlawful annual emissions limits by 2030 for each EU country in the buildings, agriculture, waste, small industry, and transport sectors that cover about 57 percent of the total EU-27 greenhouse gas emissions.

The NGOs further argue that the E’s overall climate ambition remains alarmingly off-track from the 1.5°C limit of the Paris Agreement. They call on EU decision-makers to accelerate climate action and go beyond the inadequate level of ambition of the ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package, thus enabling steep emission reductions in the short term and achieving at least 65 percent gross emission reductions by 2030.

In the court case, CAN Europe and GLAN argue that the allocations decided are contrary to environmental law and international commitments. This includes the Paris Agreement, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and Article 191 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. 

“The European Court of Human Rights made clear in April that States are obliged to adopt science-based emissions targets consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C,” said Gerry Liston, Senior Lawyer with GLAN.

“We have outlined how the EU’s 2030 targets were not derived from best available climate science, a point which the Commission has not even contested in its defence of our case. Instead, it has tried to have the case struck out on mere technicalities.”

The NGOs point to a series of legal flaws in the 2030 target and its accompanying Impact Assessment, from which it then followed that the annual emissions allocations contravene environmental law.

A hearing at the General Court could be held in the second half of 2025 and a judgement released in early 2026. The desired end result would be a ruling that forces the Commission to review and increase the national annual emissions limits.

“We have to use all available channels to push the European Commission to bring the EU’s climate ambition on track with its fair share for the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement,” said Sven Harmeling, Head of Climate at CAN Europe.
“The EU has to ramp up emissions reduction and achieve at least a 65 percent cut by 2030 if it wants to be a credible actor.”
This case was given priority over other cases by the President of the General Court of the EU, highlighting its urgency and importance. This will result in a ruling being adopted faster than usual.