What the EU Stands to Lose as the Continent Bakes

As much of Europe bakes in a heat wave — which has led to power cuts, deaths and wildfires — you’d think that the case for ambitious emissions cuts would be easy to make.

Not quite. The European Commission’s 2040 climate target has stuck to its climate change advisory board’s recommendation of a 90% decline in greenhouse gas emissions compared with 1990 levels, which is welcome. But, under pressure from member states including Poland, Italy and France, it was only able to make that politically palatable with the addition of what the commission is calling “flexibilities” and critics are calling “loopholes.” It’s a clear sign that the geopolitical context — and the EU’s approach to the environment — has changed.