(POL) ARE THE EU'S CLIMATE GOALS TOO AMBITIOUS?

Europe may have set the bar too high on its climate goals without focusing enough on economic competitiveness, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said after attending the COP29 global climate summit in Azerbaijan.

While EU energy transition targets should be met, the bloc has set “very high goals,” Christodoulides told an energy conference in Nicosia on Friday having just returned from the COP29 gathering in Baku, Azerbaijan, Ekathimerini reported.

The EU is looking to slash net greenhouse gas emissions in the bloc by 90 percent by 2040 and to reach zero net emissions by 2050.

“I do not consider it possible to achieve those goals within the timeframe we have set. It’s greatly challenging — without having made progress on major issues related to competitiveness,” Christodoulides said without elaborating, according to the report. More of this article (Politico) - link - more like this (Greece) - link - more like this (cutting emissions) - link