Climate change is high up on the European political agenda with the EU responsible for an estimated 14% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. A variety of climate-related initiatives have been implemented at EU and national levels since the early 1990s, and the United Kingdom along with the Czech Republic, are working together alongside other EU member states to combat climate change and deliver on the EU’s Kyoto target of 8% CO2 reductions by 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key Milestones and European Policy developments:

• December 1997: Kyoto Protocol conference takes place
• June 2000:         Launch of European Climate Change Programme
• February 2005:   Kyoto Protocol enters into force
• January 2005:     Start of the EU's greenhouse gas Emission Trading Scheme
• October 2005:     Launch of second European Climate Change Programme
• October 2006:     Stern Review (report on economic impacts of climate change) published. Main conclusion is that the benefits of strong, early action on climate change considerably outweigh the costs.
• January 2007:     Commission presents its "energy-climate change package” 
• March 2007:       EU summit endorses proposal to undertake a "unilateral" 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020
• December 2007: UNFCCC conference in Bali launches negotiations on post-Kyoto framework
• December 2008: EU summit agrees to ‘2020 Package’ – committing the EU to do the following by 2020: cut carbon emissions by 20%; increase use of renewable energy by 20%; cut energy consumption by 20% through improved energy efficiency.
• December 2009: UNFCCC conference in Copenhagen and projected completion of UN post-Kyoto deal
• 2012:                 Kyoto Protocol expires
• 2020:                 Target date to achieve the EU's 20% objectives. Global carbon emissions to peak.
• 2050:                 Target date for global carbon emissions to be reduced by a half. Developed countries to reduce their emissions by at least 80%.

 

For more information on Climate Change in the European Union, and what the EU is doing to tackle climate change please see European Commission Climate Change website.