Climate Change

A global problem requiring a global solution

Historic EU Climate Change and Energy Package adopted in December 2008

The European Parliament and the European Council adopted an historic package of reforms in December 2008, in record time. The deal will help Europe transform into a low-carbon economy and increase energy security. Agreement has been reached on legally binding targets, by 2020, to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% (rising to 30% in the event of a global, comprehensive agreement in Copenhagen), to establish a 20% share for renewable energy, and to improve energy efficiency by 20%. Deals were hammered out on revisions to the emissions trading system, the distribution of the reduction effort outside of the emissions trading system, a legal framework for environmentally safe carbon capture and storage (CCS) as well as on the related proposals on CO2 emissions from cars and on fuel quality. As the first region in the world to commit to such far-reaching and legally binding emission reductions, Europe is leading the fight against climate change. The package is an important contribution towards an ambitious international climate agreement to be reached in Copenhagen by the end of 2009.

Latest Publication

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme - media release
(1 December 2009)

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