“Strong 2040 Targets Are Crucial” — Enabling Industry to Drive Worldwide Climate Solutions
“Strong 2040 Targets Are Crucial” — Enabling Industry to Drive Worldwide Climate Solutions
The European Commission’s recent proposal for a binding 2040 climate target has sent a strong signal about the EU’s continued commitment to climate protection and industrial transformation. For Europe’s mechanical and plant engineering sector — an industry that plays a crucial role as both enabler and innovator in the shift to a low-carbon economy — this new milestone must be backed by practical frameworks that keep Europe competitive while delivering real emissions reductions.
VDMA Executive Director Thilo Brodtmann welcomed the Commission’s clear ambitions while emphasizing the importance of combining high-level targets with feasible measures that strengthen European industry’s global leadership in climate technologies.
“It is encouraging that the EU remains ambitious when it comes to climate protection. The proposal for the 2040 climate target confirms the Commission’s determined stance; an ambitious target for 2040 is necessary,” Brodtmann said.
European manufacturers — particularly the thousands of medium-sized companies that form the backbone of the mechanical engineering sector — are at the forefront of developing energy-efficient machinery, automation technologies, and low-carbon industrial processes. These innovations are not only vital for reducing emissions within Europe, but also hold enormous potential to support decarbonization in other regions. For this reason, Brodtmann highlighted the need for flexible mechanisms that recognize the global nature of climate challenges.
“The EU member states should be allowed to achieve a limited part of the climate targets by reducing emissions in non-EU countries. This can make sense in order to bring climate-relevant technologies to global markets more quickly,” he said. This perspective aligns with the idea of expanding carbon reduction projects and technology transfer to developing economies, where modern European machinery can make significant emissions savings more rapidly than purely domestic measures.
However, ambition alone is not enough. The VDMA stresses that Europe’s climate goals must be supported by clear, implementable policies and investments that enable companies to adapt, innovate, and scale climate-friendly solutions without being stifled by excessive regulation or conflicting rules. “To achieve this, simple legislation and sufficient investment are crucial. The mechanical engineering sector is a key enabler for international climate action and its contribution must be consistently recognised in EU legislation,” Brodtmann emphasized.
This is especially critical in the face of intensifying global competition and supply chain challenges. For many machinery and plant manufacturers, there is a risk that overlapping requirements, lack of clarity in rules, and slow permitting processes can delay investments in new technologies — precisely at a time when speed and scalability are needed most to meet interim targets for 2030 and beyond.
With the UN’s COP30 climate summit in November approaching, the VDMA believes Europe’s credibility as a climate leader depends on clear direction and swift political agreement. “We expect the European Parliament and the EU Council to swiftly adopt the new climate target. A clear and unified EU position is crucial in the run-up to the COP30 summit in November,” Brodtmann concluded.
By setting a well-defined path towards 2040, underpinned by pragmatic, innovation-friendly legislation, Europe’s mechanical engineering sector is ready to deliver the advanced solutions needed to decarbonize industry, scale renewable energy systems, and boost energy efficiency worldwide — all while securing Europe’s role as a leading hub for climate technology and industrial excellence.
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