European Union Policy
The European Union has set targets and policies that extend beyond the original ambition of the Kyoto Protocol.
The European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) outlines a climate change strategy to help prevent temperatures from increasing to more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
The ECCP’s strategy – agreed by the Council of Ministers in Spring 2007 – sets three targets to be reached by 2020:
- Greenhouse gas emissions
Cut by 20% from 1990 levels (or by 30% in the event of an adequate international agreement) - Energy efficiency
Improve by 20% - Energy from renewable sources
Increase to 20% of all energy
To achieve these targets, different policy measures have been adopted, in particular the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and various regulations and standards described below. In addition, climate change is a key part of the overall Seventh Framework Programme which in total provides up to €50.5 billion of funding for innovation support. For more information visit the EU website.
For energy intensive operations, the
EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) puts a cap on carbon dioxide emissions and creates a market and price for carbon allowances. Sites with large boilers and
CHP plants over 20MW will be part of this market, as will most sites within the electricity generation, cement, iron and steel, refining, glass & ceramics and pulp and paper sectors.