Europeans now cycle more and eat less meat. Rural areas are populated by fewer cows on the ground and more electric cables overhead. Not a single coal miner is left in the EU, but green manufacturing jobs are booming. In short, a 90 percent cut by 2040 has required Europe to remodel its economy, alter its landscapes, and change its lifestyles.

What’s in your fridge in 2040? Probably fewer animal products. 

Brussels and national governments have employed a variety of measures to nudge people toward more plant-based meals. Take a closer look at your fridge contents: Maybe there’s emissions labeling on packaging, like a Nutri-Score but for carbon intensity. Perhaps you bought those faux-meat sausages because they were cheaper than the real thing — the introduction of emissions pricing for food has driven up meat prices. 

Some governments have introduced measures to halt the rise in living space for the average European as more people live alone, driving up demand for energy and materials. The new measures range from personal CO2 allowances to programs and tax incentives helping couples move into more compact housing once their kids have moved out. 

As for longer-distance travel, more people are taking trains where possible. Taxation and carbon pricing have made flights more expensive, so that weekend jaunt to Ibiza, or that business trip to a conference across Europe, isn’t happening as often. https://www.politico.eu/article/your-life-2040-if-eu-climate-plan-work/