Denmark announces one of the world's most ambitious climate targets, while the rest of the EU looks away

"To little fanfare and few international headlines, Denmark just announced one of the world's most ambitious climate targets. The unusually wind-powered and cycle-friendly Nordic nation whose ruling Social Democrats suffered a setback in elections on Tuesday promised on Monday to cut planet-heating pollution by at least 82% by 2035 from 1990 levels. The goal inches past the UK's landmark 81% target for that year and races ahead of the EU's rather wide goal of 66.3% to 72.5%."

"Those numbers may seem strange to celebrate given that most countries the UN classifies as developed have already promised to reach net zero emissions by the middle of the century. But climate scientists have long warned that the path to a clean economy matters as much as the exact end date. Delay too much action till the 2040s, as cash-strapped governments are wont to do, and even those who go fully green by 2050 will risk having already pumped out too much pollution."

"Governments across the continent have attacked green rules with increasing ferocity over the past two years, rolling back existing policies and watering down new ones all while professing their commitment to existing climate targets. The EU, meanwhile, is energetically simplifying (read: rolling back) ambitious climate policies under the banner of increasing the bloc's competitiveness. The beating that Europe's famous Green Deal is taking at home has begun to undermine its pleas for urgent climate action on the world stage."

Denmark committed to reducing planet-heating pollution by at least 82% by 2035 relative to 1990, exceeding the UK's 81% and the EU's 66.3–72.5% targets. Many developed countries aim for net-zero by midcentury, but climate scientists emphasize that rapid near-term reductions matter to avoid overshooting safe emissions. Delaying major cuts into the 2040s risks excessive cumulative pollution even if net-zero is reached by 2050. Ambitious near-term pledges are rare at COP30 as several European governments have rolled back or watered down green rules, and EU policy simplifications have weakened international credibility. Recent weakening of deforestation rules further undermines global appeals for urgency.

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