By Sara Bertucci, Policy Manager, EPHA; and Alessandro Gallina, Senior Policy Manager, EPHA
Summary
As the European Commission unveils its proposed amendment to the EU Climate Law, aiming for a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 compared to 1990, the implications for public health, social equity and resilience are profound. The proposal sets the trajectory for post-2030 climate policy, with a welcome focus on fairness, the social and economic costs of inaction, and a renewed commitment to supporting clean and affordable technologies.
An ambitious and credible 2040 climate target is not a threat to Europe’s prosperity but a key opportunity to protect human health and ensure Europe’s long-term competitiveness, security, and fairness. Robust and science-based climate action is a cornerstone for long-term economic and societal resilience, with healthy populations a foundation of economic and social prosperity. Accelerating emissions reductions across Member States and climate neutrality across the block is key to reduce climate-related health burdens, ease pressure on healthcare systems, and free up resources for sustainable innovation. These measures can bring far-reaching economic benefits: they can strengthen Europe’s leadership in clean technology, drive job creation, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, help manage rising costs due to healthcare and productivity losses, and prevent cascading health, social, and economic disruptions triggered by climate-related shocks and extreme weather events.
However, the proposal’s inclusion of international carbon credits from 2036 raises concerns, as they might depend on uncertain external verification processes, carry risks of double counting, or divert necessary investment from domestic emissions reductions. This would risk undermining accountability and delaying essential transitions, ultimately depriving communities of the health benefits that ambitious climate action can deliver. Such reliance could slow essential structural changes within European economies, industries, and energy systems, delaying immediate and tangible health improvements in the region. For transparency, accountability, and effectiveness, it is essential that the EU prioritises measurable, domestic emissions reductions across all key sectors, avoids creating regulatory loopholes, and maintains a swift and credible path to climate neutrality as overarching priority. This approach would ensure that credits are supplementary rather than substitutive, and secure the tangible improvements in health and wellbeing that Europeans rightfully expect and deserve.
The urgency of curbing emissions to safeguard public health
Anthropogenic climate change is an accelerating public health emergency in Europe. The climate crisis is primarily driven by fossil fuel combustion, which release greenhouse gases and harmful air pollutants – directly contributing to disruptions in weather patterns as well as to rising rates of chronic diseases and increasing healthcare costs. Cutting fossil fuel use therefore not only curbs emissions but also translates directly into healthier communities and reduced healthcare expenses.
Europe is the fastest-warming continent, warming at twice the global average rate. Heatwaves, made more frequent and severe by the climate crisis, have become the most pressing climate risk to human health. In the WHO European Region, heat-related mortality has increased by approximately 30% in the past two decades, causing a rapidly escalating public health crisis. In the Region, between 60,000 and 70,000 people lost their lives prematurely due to extreme heat in 2022, with nearly 48,000 more in 2023. Heat stress significantly exacerbates the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, and stroke, leading to increased hospitalisation rates and premature deaths.
Beyond chronic diseases, climate impacts create an array of cascading risks for human health, food security, and water availability. Climate change enables vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks to spread diseases like dengue and tick-borne encephalitis further into Europe, increasing public health risks and healthcare demands. Rising climate anxiety, especially among youth, coupled with stress-induced mental illnesses from climate events, affects productivity and social cohesion. Heat stress, drought, and disrupted ecosystems reduce agricultural yields, driving up food prices and reducing accessibility and affordability of healthy diets. Drought and heatwaves disrupt water supply and sanitation, threatening public water quality and increasing exposure to waterborne diseases and contaminants. Competing demands for scarce water resources among agriculture, industry, and households further intensify these pressures. Effective climate policies can substantially mitigate these impacts and risks.
Health inequity, social and intergenerational fairness
Climate impacts exacerbate existing social inequalities, with disadvantaged populations disproportionately affected. Vulnerable and marginalised groups, including the elderly, children, economically disadvantaged individuals, and people living with disabilities or chronic illnesses, are most at risk from climate-induced health impacts due to factors like inadequate housing, limited access to healthcare, and fewer resources to respond to extreme events.
Ambitious climate targets also represent significant economic opportunities, driving job creation through investment in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and clean technology sectors. While some sectors may face employment shifts or temporary disruption, proactive investment in skills development, retraining programs, and targeted support for affected communities can mitigate these impacts. Overall, climate action can foster inclusive economic growth, innovation, and long-term prosperity across all regions of Europe.
Ensuring transparency, robust public participation, and inclusive governance mechanisms is crucial to achieving a fair and effective climate transition. EU’s efforts should actively engage citizens and communities in decision-making processes. Inclusive governance and transparent decision-making processes would enhance accountability, strengthen public trust, and promote social equity and intergenerational fairness by empowering young people and marginalised communities whose futures are most at stake. In fact, these sectors of society will bear the brunt of climate inaction through increased health risks, economic burdens, and compromised quality of life. Climate policy must therefore prioritise immediate and sustained emissions reductions across all sectors to safeguard health equity, reduce social disparities, and ensure a fairer future.
Conclusions
The EU’s 2040 climate target must be ambitious, credible, and centred around ensuring the highest level of action for climate and public health protection. Achieving a robust, domestically-focused emissions reduction will lower healthcare costs, enhance economic and social resilience, and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness. Transparent governance, inclusive participation, and clear accountability mechanisms must be at the heart of this transition, to ensure that no community is left behind and that the benefits of climate action are fairly distributed. The EU must seize this opportunity to deliver a healthier, more secure, and fairer society, by rejecting mechanisms that delay action and instead embrace solutions that deliver measurable progress across all sectors. A well-designed 2040 target also holds substantial potential to help the EU deliver on priorities within and beyond health, from improving mental and cardiovascular health to strengthening societal resilience, ensuring fairness, and reinforcing Europe’s competitiveness, preparedness, and long-term prosperity. With the right ambition and delivery, this target can drive policies that meet the urgency of the climate and health crises facing both our Region and the planet.