The EU says it is aiming to become the first major economy to go “climate neutral” by 2050
Net-zero by 2050 just got its first major champion: the European Union has unveiled a strategy that would make it the first large economy to commit to full climate neutrality. The plan leans on technology that already exists today — scaling solar and wind to 80% of electricity, insulating homes, and restoring forests to absorb what can’t be eliminated. Alongside the climate benefits, the EU estimates the shift could cut energy import costs by up to three trillion euros a year and reduce premature deaths from air pollution by 40%. A coalition of ten member states, including Sweden, is already pushing to move faster — a sign that ambitious climate leadership is becoming Europe’s mainstream expectation rather than its fringe.
