Climate Policies and Strategies in the European Union

Abstract

The European Union has an important climate strategy composed of many Directives, Commission decisions, Regulations, White Papers, etc. all of which are aimed at adapting to climate change (to manage the unavoidable) and to mitigate climate change (to avoid the unmanageable). After having largely reached the target of the Kyoto Protocol for the period 2008–2012, the EU has adopted a voluntary target for the years 2020 and 2030 (−20 and −40 % of greenhouse gas emission reduction compared to 1990, respectively) as well as a long term target of nearly complete decarbonisation of his energy system for the year 2050. The greenhouse gas emission reductions that already occurred in the EU are substantial, if accounted as a production-based approach, and the EU is a driving force in international negotiations on climate change for supporting both mitigation actions and adaptation measures.