EU’s Climate Targets: Budgets, Ambitions and Implementation on the Ground

This event will be livestreamed here and on Youtube.

With the upcoming UN COP30 Climate Conference in Brazil (November 2025) and the recently announced EU target to cut CO2 emissions by 90% by 2040, a central question arises: how to translate climate ambitions into concrete actions, while keeping expectations of citizens, businesses and the agricultural sector realistic.

For EU member states, the realistic implementation of those policies will depend on the adequate funding for the green transition and climate neutrality in the newly proposed MFF. Local and regional leaders implement 70% of climate mitigation and 90% of climate adaptation policies in the EU. They are key players for the success of any movement towards a more climate neutral economy and today face a dilemma: in times when the EU’s priorities focus on competitiveness and economic security, accommodating climate targets becomes a challenging, expensive and at times unpopular task.

This policy debate will explore questions such as:

• Do we have the necessary funding in the proposed MFF to meet the EU’s climate targets and energy transition ambitions?

• How can we support those regions and cities that are lagging behind, particularly those dependent on coal and carbon-heavy industries?

• How can the EU engage industry, local SMEs, and farmers in this transition?

• How can we protect families struggling with rising energy costs?