More than 2,000 European scientists sent an open letter to the leaders of the European Union urging them to maintain an ambitious climate goal.
This involves reducing at least 90% of CO2 emissions by 2040.
The letter, released ahead of the climate summit on October 23, highlights that this goal represents the greatest economic opportunity for the bloc.
Scientists see the green transition as an economic driver
The 2,178 researchers who signed, from institutions such as the Alfred Wegener Institute, the Helmholtz Center, and the University of Graz, presented the document titled “Climate neutrality is Europe’s greatest economic opportunity”.
“The world is already in full transition: countries are moving towards clean industries and renewable energies,” the letter states.
The scientists argue that maintaining a coherent climate policy is key to European competitiveness and its global economic leadership.
The letter arrives before the COP30 to be held in November in Belém, Brazil, where international positions on climate change will be defined.
In the document, academics request that the EU follow the recommendations of the European Scientific Advisory Council on Climate Change, an independent body advising the European Commission.
This technical body called for a reduction of greenhouse gases by 90 to 95% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels.
That goal would be consistent with achieving climate neutrality by 2050, a commitment assumed by the European bloc.
Experts warn that the political debate is moving away from scientific evidence and focusing on “short-term calculations, denialist speeches, and haggling over legal loopholes.”
Alarming data on global warming
Global warming has already reached 1.3°C compared to the pre-industrial era, scientists remind us.
Data from the World Meteorological Organization indicate that 2024 may have temporarily exceeded 1.5°C.
“The increase in greenhouse gases comes from unsustainable use of energy, land, and consumption patterns,” the document warns.
Researchers point to increasing impacts on health, agriculture, water, and biodiversity, as well as rising economic damages.
They estimate that in 2024 alone, up to 62,700 people died prematurely in the EU from climate-related causes.
The economic benefits of decarbonization
The green transition would allow the EU to save more than 850 billion euros in fossil fuel imports between 2025 and 2040.
Additionally, it would create two million new jobs in clean and technological industries.
“Scientific analyses show that decarbonization offers substantial opportunities for investment, innovation, and employment, strengthening European technological leadership,” they affirm.
Climate neutrality would reduce domestic energy bills by up to two-thirds.
It would also strengthen energy independence and resilience “against autocratic regimes.”
Finally, the signatories oppose the “flexibilities” proposed by the European Commission to achieve the goal through international carbon credits.
Studies show that these mechanisms overestimate their benefits “by five to ten times, and are not reliable”, according to the document.
“European leadership in Belém will demonstrate whether the Union wants to remain a global reference in climate policy and sustainable innovation or if it prefers to lag behind,” the text concludes.
