Latest EU policy actions on climate change
The climate transition is a key priority for the European Council and the Council of the EU. The launch of the European Green Deal in December 2019 brought new impetus to climate policy and action at EU level.
Below is an overview of the most recent climate-related EU legislation and policy initiatives.
Fit for 55
The EU is working on the revision of its climate, energy and transport-related legislation under the so-called 'Fit for 55 package' in order to align current laws with the EU's climate goals for 2030 and 2050. The package includes, among others:
- the revision of the EU emissions trading system (ETS)
- efforts sharing regulation
- renewable energy and energy efficiency directives
- land use and forestry regulation
- CO2 emissions of cars and vans regulation
European climate law
The objective of the European climate law, as one of the elements of the European Green Deal, is to put the goal of a climate-neutral EU by 2050 into legislation. In December 2020, EU environment ministers reached an agreement on a general approach on the Commission’s proposal for a European climate law, including a new EU greenhouse gas net emissions reduction target of at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990, following the guidance of the European Council given on 10-11 December 2020.
In April 2021, the Council's and the European Parliament's negotiators reached a provisional political agreement on the European climate law. The Council adopted its position at first reading in June 2021, ending the adoption procedure.
The European climate law sets a binding EU climate target of a reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions (emissions after deduction of removals) by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. The EU will also aim to achieve a higher volume of carbon net sink by 2030.
The regulation establishes a European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change which will provide independent scientific advice and reporting on EU climate measures. It foreseen an intermediate climate target for 2040 to be established in the next years.
EU strategy on adaptation to climate change
In June 2021, EU environment ministers approved conclusions endorsing the new EU strategy on adaptation to climate change. The strategy outlines a long-term vision for the EU to become a climate-resilient society that is fully adapted to the unavoidable impacts of climate change by 2050.
Measure foreseen in the strategy are:
- better gathering and sharing data to improve access to and exchange of knowledge on climate impacts
- nature-based solutions to help build climate-resilience and protect ecosystems
- integration of adaptation into macro-fiscal policies
The conclusions give political guidance to the Commission as regards the implementation of the strategy. They also provide guidance for the submission of an EU Adaptation communication before the United Nations climate conference (COP26).
- Council endorses new EU strategy on adaptation to climate change (press release, 10 June 2021)
- Environment Council, 10 June 2021
In April 2020, the Council adopted a new regulation to reduce the risk of shortages of water for irrigating crops. The rules are designed to help Europe adapt to the consequences of climate change. The regulation, which is fully in line with the circular economy, facilitates the use of treated urban waste water for agricultural irrigation, thus improving the availability of water and helping prevent food shortages.
CO2 emissions from transport
In April 2019, stricter emission limits for cars and vans were decided upon to ensure that, from 2030 onwards, new vehicles will emit on average less CO2 compared to 2021 levels:
- cars – 37.5% less CO2
- vans – 31% less CO2
Limits for trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles were adopted in June 2019. New rules will require manufacturers to cut CO2 emissions from new trucks, compared with 2019 levels, on average by:
- 15% from 2025
- 30% from 2030
EU emissions trading system
In February 2018, the EU adopted revised rules for the EU emissions trading system (ETS). Set up in 2005, it is the world’s first major carbon market and remains the biggest one too. It sets a cap on how much CO2 heavy industry and power stations can emit. The total volume of allowed emissions is distributed to companies in the form of permits which can be traded.
In December 2019, the EU and Switzerland agreed to link their emissions trading systems. This agreement will be mutually beneficial for the EU and the Swiss Confederation, as linking cap and trade systems can increase the availability of reduction opportunities and enhance the cost efficiency of emissions trading.
Effort sharing
Greenhouse gas emissions from sectors falling outside the scope of the EU emissions trading system are regulated by the so-called effort sharing regulation, which sets binding targets for annual greenhouse gas emission reductions for member states for 2021-2030.
The regulation aims to ensure that these sectors contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The sectors include buildings, agriculture (non-CO2 emissions), waste management and transport (excluding aviation and international shipping).
Land use and forestry
In May 2018, a new regulation to improve the protection and management of land and forests was adopted. Through this regulation, greenhouse gas emissions from land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) have been incorporated into the 2030 climate and energy framework.
Clean energy
Three quarters of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions are caused by the production and consumption of energy. The EU is working towards the decarbonisation of the energy sector – a central element of the green transition.
In December 2020, the Council adopted conclusions on the strategies on offshore renewable energy and hydrogen which had been proposed by the Commission. In their informal video conference the same month, EU energy ministers discussed energy system integration.
EU member states are required to present and regularly update their national energy and climate plans (NECPs) to report on their contributions to energy efficiency and renewables targets and to emissions reduction targets. The NECPs were introduced within the energy union strategy and the first ones cover the period 2021-2030.
Further policy actions have also been established by the Council in relation to the fight against climate change and as part of the European Green Deal strategy. These include the just transition mechanism, the ‘farm to fork’ strategy, the biodiversity strategy and the European industrial strategy.
Taking the lead on climate change
The EU is committed to spearheading the global fight against climate change. EU leaders aspire to the ambitious goal of making Europe climate-neutral by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement. By working together in the coming decades, EU countries want to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to a minimum and measures are taken to offset any remaining emissions.