Summary

The EU is a unique player in the climate space, with 27 countries who contribute to and negotiate climate policy as a group, submitting a joint NDC for all Member States and cooperating with Iceland and Norway for implementation. Considered a global leader in climate action through policies such as the European Green Deal, the EU leverages on being the third largest global economy to induce companies trading with the Union to adopt its standards, coined the ‘Brussels Effect’. The EU’s composition makes it a remarkable example at the international level of how democratic processes, although lengthy, can transform into ambitious political commitments.

But the EU is also a Top 20 emitter, one of the six top largest emitters and a historical emitter, accounting for an estimated 5.95% of global emissions. Following ratification of the Paris Agreement, the European Union set an initial target of at least 40% economy-wide reduction. With the European Green Deal (2019), it committed to reach climate neutrality by 2050, becoming binding in 2021 with the European Climate Law. The updated 2025 NDC, which covers a period up to 2035 and follows the 2020 NDC and 2023 update, sets as a fully unconditional commitment to achieve a net domestic reduction of at least 55% by 2030, and an indicative contribution of 66.25-72.5% by 2035 compared to 1990. The Commission is currently drafting proposals for a 90% net emissions reduction by 2040. Alarmingly, Europe is warming faster than any other regions of the world and the Mediterranean region is warming 20% faster than global average, with increasingly devastating consequences for ecosystems and local communities at every level of temperature increase.

Gender mainstreaming.The EU recognises the importance of gender justice to achieving climate goals. Its NDC explicitly frames women both as a vulnerable group and as active agents, leaders and decision-makers in climate action, with Member States increasingly recognising the necessity of gender justice nationally and empowering women to positions of greater power. Women are recognised as disproportionately affected by climate change, particularly by energy and transport poverty. But the NDC does not report binding targets or accountability mechanisms and lacks gender-disaggregated data. Women still only account for only 26.7% of members in the highest decision-making bodies, and gender is not mainstreamed across all sectoral policies. Concerning lack of mention of LGBTQIA+ people, intersectionality, and gender-based and sexual violence.

Youth inclusion. The EU NDC explicitly recognises the vulnerability of children and youth to climate change as well as their centrality as “agents of change”. It also indicates a commitment to their meaningful engagement in decision-making processes, but without established binding budgetary commitment or specific targets in the NDC to achieve this aim. Across the NDC, youth is not consistently included when relevant, such as in the adaptation strategy. Other notable gaps include the lack of an intergenerational dimension and child-sensitive commitments on access to information. The newly announced 2026 Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness could provide a step in the right direction.