The vote makes the EU's 2030 and 2050 climate targets legally binding and clears the way for the European Commission's package of legislative proposals on climate and energy on July 14, which aims to deliver on the overarching target. Lawmakers in the EU assembly voted the proposed amendment on the 2030 target by 352 votes to 326, with 18 abstentions.

The vote means the EP has given its final rubber stamp on a provisional deal it reached with the EU Council on April 21 in which the EU will raise its emissions reduction target to at least 55% below 1990 levels by 2030, from the previous 40% goal. In order to keep a net-zero emissions by 2050 goal on track, the European Commission will make a proposal for a 2040 target at the latest within six months of the first global review in 2023 foreseen in the Paris Agreement, the Parliament said.

By Sept. 30, 2023, and every five years thereafter, the EC will assess the collective progress made by all EU countries, as well as the consistency of national measures, toward the EU's goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050.