The EU response to climate changes: goals and legislation
The European Union (EU) has adopted activities and ambitious legislative measures in many policy and economic areas to implement its international commitments on climate change.
- By 2017, the EU had reduced its emissions by almost 22% compared to 1990:
- In December 2020, in light with the Paris Agreement, EU leaders endorsed a binding EU target for a net domestic reduction of in greenhouse gas emissions .
- In April 2021, the Council and the Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the which aims to set into law the 2030 emissions reduction target. The agreement was adopted by EU ministers in June 2021.
While this increased climate ambition will require transforming the EU industry, it will also: spur sustainable economic growth, create jobs, deliver health and environmental benefits for EU citizens and nature. They will contribute to the long-term global competitiveness of the EU economy by promoting innovation in the green technologies.
The EU has worked together with global partners to encourage and strengthen international engagement on climate. The EU has taken on a key role in negotiating and upholding the landmark international agreements on the environment – the UN Climate Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement on Climate – and it continues to support the goals and aspirations represented by those agreements.
The EU works with countries on a bilateral basis, for example by including climate clauses when negotiating trade deals. The EU shares experience and urges its partners to take bold actions against global warming. The EU finances developing countries’ efforts to tackle climate change and respond to its impacts.
For the EU economy, it is important that the climate-neutrality objective is achieved in a way that preserves the EU competitiveness. This includes developing effective measures in this direction in comparison with other countries which do not have such ambitious climate policies.
