Ursula von der Leyen defends EU emissions trading system amid climate targets

On 12 February 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a press conference in Belgium that the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) has cut greenhouse‑gas emissions by about 39 percent since 1990 and that the sectors covered by the scheme have grown by roughly 71 percent. She framed the ETS as a market‑based tool that can deliver decarbonisation while supporting economic growth, and used the remarks to reinforce the EU’s broader climate strategy.

Von der Leyen’s earlier 2020 State of the European Union address outlined similar ambitions: a revised target to lower emissions by 55 percent by 2030, and a pledge that 30 percent of the €750 billion COVID‑19 recovery fund would be spent on climate‑friendly projects. The address also promised substantial investment in digital infrastructure and supercomputers to bolster Europe’s competitiveness. Together, the statements illustrate the EU’s ongoing push to combine climate action with economic revitalisation.