The European Commission’s push for regulatory simplification is welcome but incomplete. As the EU executive cuts red tape with one hand, with the other it is pushing ahead with new legislation that is bound to fail: a new 2040 climate target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

The simplification drive responds to citizens’ concerns about the cost of living and complaints from businesses that Europe’s regulatory burden is harming their competitiveness. A 2040 climate goal, building on 2030 targets that look certain to be missed, will make both of those worse.