In an effort to align EU Policy with Scientific Evidence, over 2000 scientists signed an open letter to EU heads of state and government ahead of the European Council on 23 October this week, reminding the importance of Climate Neutrality.

The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change advised that a 90%–95% net domestic reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) until 2040 (compared to the 1990 baseline) is necessary in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The political discussion is moving further away from the scientific evidence, espe­cially in the revision of the EU climate law (2040 climate target).

Ahead of the summit of Heads of state and Heads of government on 23/10/2025, we urge policymakers to stick to science and stick to the Paris Agreement. The EU should have submitted its target to the United Nations already in September – in time for the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference in November. A further delay or softening should not happen.

The letter highlights the benefits of action, as well as the costs of inaction:

The benefits of such a target are enormous. If done correctly, it could, among others,
● save over €850 billion in fossil fuel imports between 2025 and 2040,
● increase competitiveness and create more than 2 million new jobs in clean industries,
● cut household energy bills by up to two-thirds, and
● reduce Europe’s dependency on autocratic countries, strengthening independence and resilience.

The cost of inaction, by contrast, is substantial: In 2024 alone, an estimated 62,700
premature deaths occurred due to climate-related factors in the EU. Heatwaves, floods, and other extreme weather events continue to cause both economic damage and human suffering. In comparison, additional annual investments required for the transition are approximately 1.5 % of EU GDP, with long-term benefits for resilience, innovation, and prosperity.

You can read the full letter, and we encourage you to share it to ensure visibility ahead of tomorrow’s meeting.