European Union must reduce carbon emissions three times faster to meet targets

In an attempt to prevent weather conditions from becoming more extreme, the European Union promeIt will pump 55% less planet-warming gas into the atmosphere in 2030 than it did in 1990 – but over the past three decades, it has reduced emissions by just 32%.

Current policies will reduce emissions in 2030 by just 43%, according to new estimates from the European Environment Agency. The number rises to 48% if policies that have been planned but not yet implemented are included.

The commission's report praised efforts to quickly phase out gas from Russia in the wake of the war in Ukraine, which quickly drove up energy prices. The EU also oversaw a boom in clean technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels, the report found, but the Commission warned that renewables needed to grow much faster than in the last decade.

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Research shows that young Europeans leaveariam to drive and have fewer children to save the planet

They are willing to have smaller families, stop using cars and – albeit in smaller numbers – go vegan for the planet, but ditching single-use plastics and growing some plants may be a step too far. Across Europe, it appears that young people are more willing than older generations to make big lifestyle changes that helpariato combat the climate crisis.