Your consultant

In topic Climate:

Dr. Götz Reichert, LL.M.

Head of Division

+49 761 38693-235

reichert(at)cep.eu

Dr. Martin Menner

Policy Analyst

+49 761 38693-242

menner(at)cep.eu

Svenja Schwind

Policy Analyst

+49 761 38693-249

schwind(at)cep.eu

Prof. Dr. Jan S. Voßwinkel

Scientific Advisor

+49 761 38693-107

vosswinkel(at)cep.eu

Climate

In order to protect the environment, the EU wants to reduce greenhouse gases by at least 20% by 2020 as compared with 1990 levels. The economy is to be largely de-carbonised by 2050, allowing greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced by 90%. cep follows EU proposals such as the European Emissions Trading System, the reduction of CO2 emissions from vehicles, plans for energy efficiency and environmentally sustainable product design ("Eco-design") as well as the promotion of renewable energy.

Trucks, vans, buses: cep rejects new CO2 limits as a mistake (cepPolicyBrief)

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Berlin/Freiburg. Heavy duty vehicles are responsible for a significant share of CO2 emissions in the EU. For this reason, the Commission wants to set new CO2 limits for trucks, vans and buses. In view of other, more efficient instruments, the Centre for European Policy (cep) considers the Commission proposal to be one-sided, anti-technology and superfluous - and therefore rejects it.

Fit for 55: EU-Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS I) for Industry and Energy

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In the EU, greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced to zero by 2050. On the way there, they are to be reduced by 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. To achieve this goal, the Commission has presented a comprehensive package of measures ("Fit for 55") for all sectors. The Centre for European Policy (cep) considers central proposals to amend the directive on emissions trading for industry and energy to be questionable. The think tank fears production and emissions relocations to third countries.

Paving the Way for a European Carbon Market (cepInput)

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Wind, sun and hydrogen are seen as the keys to climate neutrality. Another one is often ignored: CO2 storage. In a new study, the Centre for European Policy calls for the development of an EU-wide pipeline and storage infrastructure for carbon capture and storage (CCS) - as well as the removal of regulatory barriers and the conclusion of Carbon-Contracts-for-Difference for young CCS technologies.

Fit for 55: Climate and Road Transport (cepPolicyBrief)

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The EU wants to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050 and by 55 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990. To this end, the European Commission has proposed an extensive set of measures ("Fit for 55"). The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) welcomes the highly controversial Emissions Trading System for Road Traffic and Buildings (EU EHS II) but calls for social cushioning of exploding energy prices.

Fit for 55: Climate and Shipping (cepPolicyBrief)

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Maritime transport accounted for around 2 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2018. This corresponded to about 85 percent of German emissions. Commission, Council and Parliament want to agree on reduction measures for the European Union. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) warns against Brussels going it alone.

Climate Dividend (cepInput)

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Pricing CO2 emissions is considered by economists to be the key to decarbonising the transport and building sectors. In order to mitigate social hardship, the Centre for European Policy is calling for a lump sum, income-independent climate dividend - co-financed by EU revenues from 2027. The judgement of the German Constitutional Court on the German Climate Transformation Fund makes this more necessary.

Zero Pollution Action Plan (cepPolicyBrief COM2021_400)

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The European Union wants to significantly reduce the pollution of air, water, soil and consumer goods by 2050. Pollutants should then be able to endanger neither human health nor the environment. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) has analysed the so-called zero-pollutant target.

Emissions Trading for the Shipping Sector – Criticism of EU Plans for Unilateral Action (cepInput)

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The European Union wants to reduce CO2 emissions in the shipping sector. Brussels plans to include unilaterally emissions of the greenhouse gas in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), probably in mid-2021. The Centre for European Policy (cep) criticises the plan as inappropriate.

Fit for 55: Climate and Buildings (cepPolicyBrief)

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The European Union wants to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. To this end, a separate emissions trading system for buildings and road transport is to be introduced. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) is opposing demands from member states and the European Parliament to suspend or soften the introduction in view of skyrocketing energy prices.

Offshore Renewable Energy (cepPolicyBrief COM2020 741)

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 The European Union wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. With this aim, the production of offshore renewable energy – such as wind, wave and tidal energy – is to be increased fivefold from the current twelve to a total of 61 gigawatts. The amount of renewable energy as a proportion of overall energy consumption is therefore to rise significantly. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) has analysed the EU’s plan.

CBAM: Damaging to Climate Protection and EU Export Industries (cepStudy)

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Imports from third countries with low climate protection standards are jeopardising the competitiveness of companies in the EU. The Commission therefore wants to introduce a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) that would make imports from countries with lax standards, such as Russia, more expensive. The amount of the levy is to correspond to the price of EU emissions trading ("notional ETS").

Weights and Dimensions of Commercial Vehicles (cepPolicyBrief)

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Heavy goods vehicles cause more than 6% of all greenhouse gases in Europe – and the trend is rising. The Commission wants to reduce CO2 emissions by promoting zero-emission vehicles and more efficient road freight transport. The Centre for European Policy (cep) supports the proposal but calls for fair competitive conditions for rail and inland waterway transport.

Catalyzing the EU’s Green Industrial Transformation (cepInput)

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Europe is to become climate neutral. However, massive economic efforts are needed to achieve this technology transfer. The Centres for European Policy Network (cep) has studied a sample of 105 start-ups in the field of clean technologies. The result: a lack of venture capital and excessive bureaucracy stand in the way of green transformation in Germany, France and Italy.

Climate Clubs: Chances and Pitfalls (cepStudy)

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For a fortnight, the UN Climate Conference COP26 in Glasgow struggled to find solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While the EU Commission found little support for its plan to protect itself unilaterally from unfair competition with a so-called climate tariff, the CO2 border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), Germany, among others, pleaded for a climate club of the willing. The goal: as many countries as possible should agree on a minimum price for CO2 and use a common climate tariff against non-members to protect their industries.

The French Climate and Resilience Law (cepInput)

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The European Union wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent compared to 1990 by the end of this decade. Just one day before the EU climate package "Fit for 55" was published, France passed its own climate law. This also provides for a reduction of emissions, but only by 40 percent.

Europe in the Taxonomy Trap (cepInput)

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Shortly before the deadline on 21 January, the German government commented on the European Commission's plan to declare nuclear power and natural gas sustainable. The think tank Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) sees a lever to legally stop the taxonomy.

Fit for 55: Renewable Energies (cepPolicyBrief)

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The EU wants to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. Therefore, the share of renewable energies in the EU shall increase to 40 percent by 2030. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) sees rigid targets for the industry for using renewables as a competitive disadvantage for the EU.

Market Instruments for a Climate-neutral Industry (cepInput)

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Revolution with risks: Rapidly decoupling Europe's energy-intensive economy from fossil resources without sacrificing industrial value added is technologically and regulatory tricky. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) suggests Carbon Contracts for Differences (CCfDs) and green lead markets as appropriate regulatory tools. According to cep calculations, the costs of decarbonizing steel production via CCfDs alone amount to up to 12 billion euros per year across the EU.

Adaptation to Climate Change (cepPolicyBrief COM2021 82)

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The dramatic effects of climate change are forcing the EU to act. Heat waves, droughts, storms, heavy rain and floods lead to damages to the ecosystem and cause economic losses of around twelve billion euros annually in the EU alone. In line with the European Climate Change Act, the Commission has presented an adaptation strategy to make the EU resilient ("climate resilient") to the unavoidable impacts of climate change by 2050.

Euro 7 Emission Standards for Motor Vehicles (cepPolicyBrief)

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The Commission wants to reduce emissions of traffic-related air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and ozone still further. To this end, Brussels is counting on the introduction of so-called Euro 7 standards. The Center for European Policy (cep) sees the stricter requirements as a premature end to combustion engines through the back door. The current standards suffice to drastically reduce traffic-related pollutants.

Renovation Wave (cepPolicyBrief COM2020_662)

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The EU wants to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas to net zero by 2050, and by 2030 get them down by 55% compared to 1990 levels. To achieve this ambitious goal, the number of energy-efficient building renovations is to at least double by 2030. "Expensive subsidies and small-scale individual regulatory measures should be dispensed in favour of an emissions trading system as the main instrument," demands Martin Menner of the Centre for European Policy (cep).

Methane Strategy (cepPolicyBrief to COM(2020)_663)

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The EU Commission wants to presentin 2021 a legislative proposal to reduce methane emissions. The greenhouse gas methane, which is mainly produced by leakages from gas pipes, landfills and in agriculture through the digestive process of cows and sheep, has so far not been covered by emissions trading. The Centre for European Policy (cep) is calling on Brussels to include methane emissions in the energy and waste sectors into an emissions trading system.

EU Hydrogen Strategy (cepPolicyBrief)

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The EU Commission wants to achieve the goal of climate neutrality of the EU by 2050, e.g., through a comprehensive hydrogen strategy. The aim is to promote hydrogen produced without CO2 and with low CO2 emissions. A cepPolicyBrief examines the Commission's communication on the Hydrogen strategy.

Reducing CO2 Emissions in Maritime Transport (cepInput)

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For the first time, the EU wants to take measures to reduce CO2 emissions from maritime transport. This cepInput takes stock of the current climate policy situation at global and EU level and assesses the impact of possible measures.

The Renewed Sustainable Finance Strategy (cepInput)

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The EU Commission intends to present a new strategy for sustainable financing in the coming months. In spring 2020, it had already held a consultation on the subject. On the basis of the consultation document, the Center for European Policy is examining the ideas that are likely to feed into the new strategy.

(cepInput) Environmental Taxation in France

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Despite the Corona crisis, the EU Commission is sticking to its Green Deal, for which environmental taxes in Europe will also play a role, and perhaps even more so than before. In this background, cepFrance has prepared an overview and analysis of the system of French environmental taxes.

Carbon Pricing in France & Germany (cepInput)

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The pricing of CO2 emissions in the transport and building sectors dominates the climate policy debate both in France and in Germany. With a cepInput, cep and cepFrance jointly analyse and evaluate strategies and instruments of carbon pricing in both countries, highlighting differences and similarities.

Energy Taxation in France (cepInput)

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The EU Commission is planning an amendment to the energy tax directive. Accordingly, national taxes on fossil fuels throughout the EU should be based on their CO2 content and subsidies should be phased out. Against this background, cepFrance has analysed the current French energy taxation.

European Climate Law (cepPolicyBrief to COM2020_80)

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The "European Climate Law" aims to establish the objective of EU "climate neutrality" by 2050 as well as the assessment of a further tightening of the emission reduction requirements for 2030 from 40% to 50% - 55% as compared with 1990 levels.

EU Climate Policy in Light of the Corona Crisis (cepInput)

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The Corona crisis is a stress test for the climate policy of the EU and its member states. The cep has examined the various instruments for reducing CO2 emissions – prohibitions and bans, subsidies, CO2 tax, emissions trading – with regard to their "crisis resistance".

A European Green Deal: Von der Leyen’s tasks for the new EU Commission – Part 2 (cepAdhoc)

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The cep evaluates in five cepAdhocs Ursula von der Leyen's central work assignments to the new EU commissioners. The second one deals with the topic "A European Green Deal", for which Frans Timmermans will be responsible as Executive Vice-President.

Climate Protection Vision 2050 (Communication)

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The EU Commission has summarised its long-term climate policy targets in a Communication. Under the heading “A Clean Planet for all” it presents its vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate-neutral economy.

CO2 Targets for New Lorries (Regulation)

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In order to reduce CO2 emissions in the road transport sector, CO2emission targets for lorries are to be introduced for the first time. The EU Commission has therefore submitted a proposal for a Regulation.

Climate Protection Outside the EU ETS

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The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) for reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) covers only about 45% of EU GHG emissions. Non-covered economic sectors include road transport, buildings, agriculture and waste management. In these sectors, GHG emissions are to be reduced through "effort-sharing" within the EU.

Climate Protection by way of the EU ETS

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The EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) is the most important instrument for climate protection in the European Union and makes a material contribution to achieving EU climate targets. Prior to its 4th trading period (2021–2030), the ETS has been comprehensively reformed. cep has prepared an Input assessing the status and perspectives following the reform.

Clean Road Vehicles (Directive)

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The EU Commission wants to promote the uptake of zero-emission and low-emission cars, lorries and buses by way of strict rules on public procurement. For this the Directive on the promotion of clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles is to be amended.

CO2 Limits on Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles (Regulation)

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In order to reduce CO2 emissions in road transport, CO2 limits on cars and light duty vehicles will be further tightened. The EU Commission has made a proposal for a Regulation in this regard of which cep takes a primarily critical view because stricter CO2 limits give rise to high CO2 avoidance costs.

Monitoring the CO2 from Heavy Duty Vehicles (Regulation)

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The EU Commission is aiming to bring in a new registration and monitoring system for the CO2 emissions and fuel consumption of new lorries and buses. This means additional bureaucratic obligations for vehicle manufacturers and registration authorities. The obligation to publish sensitive data weakens the competitiveness of European vehicle manufacturers on markets outside the EU.

Emissions from Land Use and Forestry (LULUCF) (Regulation)

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On the basis of an EU Commission Regulation, the emissions and removals of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the land use and forestry sector will be fully included into EU climate policy. As a result, the quantity of GHG emissions in this area will no longer be permitted to be greater than the removals of GHGs by way of absorption into the ground or by plants or wood products.

National 2021–2030 climate targets for non-ETS sectors (Regulation)

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The EU Commission will allocate Member States with national targets for reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) in sectors not subject to EU emissions trading (ETS) (e.g. transport and agriculture). It also proposes flexibility options which Member States can use to achieve their national targets.

Carbon Leakage

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The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) is an ecologically sound and economically effective instrument for climate protection. In cep's view, the ETS can only contribute to global climate protection if carbon emissions that are reduced in the EU are not simply moved to third countries (carbon leakage).

Implementing the Paris Agreement on Climate Change (Communication)

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The EU has set out in a Communication how the European Union will implement the global climate change agreement concluded in Paris. In cep's view, the Paris Agreement is a necessary step towards effective climate protection. The Commission's assertion that the provisions on carbon leakage are "balanced" is, however, incorrect.

Emissions Trading System from 2021 (Directive)

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In 2014, the European Council laid down stricter targets for reducing carbon emissions for the period 2021-2030. The 2030 reduction target in the sectors covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) amounts to at least 43% as compared with 2005 levels. In order to achieve this, the EU-wide permitted volume of emissions ("Cap") will be reduced annually from 2021 by 2.2% instead of the current 1.74%. In addition, the "benchmarks", which aim to create incentives for reducing carbon emissions and are based on the average emission volume of the 10% most efficient installations in a sector in 2007 and 2008, will be subject to a blanket reduction.

Reform of the EU ETS

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In its revision of the Directive on the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), the EU should even after 2020 issue free allowances to companies at risk of emigrating in order to prevent the relocation of carbon emissions to non-EU countries.

Paris Climate Conference 2015 (Communication)

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As part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 90 developed and developing countries, including those of the EU, have pledged to "curb" their greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 in order to prevent damaging consequences for climate change. As these commitments are not sufficient to prevent the severe impact of climate change, a Climate Change Agreement, legally binding for all parties, should be concluded as a Protocol to the UNFCCC in Paris in December 2015 and implemented from 2020 onwards. The European Commission wants to prepare the EU for the final round of international talks prior to the Climate Conference in Paris and therefore defines the requirements that the EU has in relation to the planned Paris Protocol.

Energy Union (Communication)

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The European Commission clarifies its Strategic Framework for an Energy Union and the associated climate and energy policy measures which it is planning for the coming years. It supports inter alia in this regard an expansion of cross-border gas infrastructure in the EU and tighter CO2 limits for motor vehicles.

Extend the EU ETS!

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The European Council calls for the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to be developed to the main European instrument to prevent climate change. The cep examines how an extension of the EU ETS, for example on the road transport sector, can induce effective and efficient climate protection. It is straightforward that an extension of the EU ETS using the upstream approach can be implemented and is preferable to regulatory climate change measures.

Climate and Energy Targets 2030

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The European Council has agreed on the following key targets for the future climate and energy policy of the European Union for the period from 2021 to 2030: (1) to reduce the EU’s domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 40% relative to 1990 levels; (2) to increase the proportion of renewable energy to 27% of overall EU energy consumption; (3) to reduce projected energy consumption by 27%; (4) to increase the level in each Member State of electricity interconnections to other Member States to 15% of their installed production capacity.

"Market Stability Reserve" for Emission Trading (Decision)

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In the EU, operators of fixed installations and aviation companies are only allowed to emit greenhouse gases where they have emission rights. The fall in the price of emission allowances results, in the Commission's view, from an "imbalance between supply and demand". It wants to remove this imbalance by introducing a "market stability reserve". Depending on market conditions, stabilisation of the allowance market will be achieved either by removing allowances from the market and placing them in the reserve, or by releasing them from the reserve and channelling them into the market.

Climate and Energy Policy Targets for 2030 (Communication)

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The European Commission proposes new targets for 2030 for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the development of renewable energy. An energy-efficiency target will not be discussed until autumn 2014 following the assessment of the Energy Efficiency Directive. Consultation will take place, in the framework of a new "governance structure", between the Commission and the Member States regarding the latter's plans for climate and energy policy.

Support for Renewables (Communication)

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With renewables taking up a growing share of energy production, the European Commission wants support for renewables to be carried out more competitively. For this purpose, feed-in tariffs should be largely replaced by feed-in premiums and quota models. Degressive elements of the support system should mean that overcompensation and distortions of competition are avoided. Support for existing installations should not be changed retrospectively.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) (Communication)

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The European Commission argues in favour of targeted support for CCS and puts various options up for discussion: subsidies for CCS investors, CO2 emission performance standards or a mandatory CCS certificate system for carbon emitters such as power stations and industrial plants.

Inclusion of Aviation in the EU Emission Trading System (Directive)

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Airlines can only emit greenhouse gases if they own the corresponding emission rights ("certificates"). Since 2012, all flights have, in principle, been obliged to own certificates for the entire flight distance between two EU airports and flights between an EU airport and an airport in a non-EU country. As the inclusion of aviation in the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) has come up against considerable international opposition, the EU resolved that, in 2012, the ETS would only apply to flights between EU airports. The European Commission now proposes that airlines should require certificates for emissions from flights to and from third party countries between 2014 and 2020 in respect of the distance flown over the European Economic Area (EEA).

Adaptation to Climate Change (Communication)

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The European Commission initially wants to adopt non-binding guidelines to make it easier for the Member States to adapt to the negative consequences of climate change. For this purpose, the Commission wants to support the build-up and provision of knowledge about adaptation measures. In addition, the European standardisation organisations are to examine whether industry standards, in the areas of energy, transport and construction, take sufficient account of climate change.

Monitoring of CO2 Emissions from Maritime Transport (Regulation)

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The European Commission wants to bring in a system to monitor, report and verify CO2 emissions and other climate-relevant information from ships ("MRV system").  On the one hand, the data will create a basis for further political measures. On the other, companies will gain a better overview of cost reductions.

Climate and Energy Policy to 2030 (Green Paper)

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The European Commission argues in favour of an early agreement on Climate and Energy Policy to 2030. The discussion centres on the question of the number and definition of targets and how these can be achieved, efficiently and effectively, taking account of competitiveness and security of supply.

Climate Change Agreement 2015 (Communication)

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The EU Commission argues in favour of including all major "economies and economic sectors" into an international climate change agreement with legally binding emission reductions and introducing carbon pricing for international aviation and maritime transport.

Change Options for the EU Emissions Trading System (Report)

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In the EU operators of fixed installations and aviation companies may emit greenhouse gas emissions only if they possess the corresponding emission allowances. According to the Commission, the reduction of prices for emission allowances is a result of the “imbalance between supply and demand”. Now, it proposes options for eliminating structurally and sustainably what it perceives as a "supply-demand imbalance“ in the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS).

Biofuels and indirect land-use changes (Directive)

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The Commission wishes to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions caused by indirect land-use changes. To this end it wishes to limit the amount of how much conventional biofuels count to a maximum of five percentage points of the 10% expansion target, amongst other things.

Backloading of CO2 Emission Allowances (Decision)

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Due to the economic crisis, the demand for and price of CO2 emission allowances are lower than originally expected. As a result, the Commission holds that the functionality of the EU emission trading system is jeopardised. Therefore, it wishes to be afforded the possibility to change the timetable for auctioning emission allowances in order to be able to temporarily hold back these allowances (“backloading“).

Low Carbon Economy in 2050 (Communication)

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In order to limit global climate change to a global warming of below 2°C, the EU is to move towards a “competitive low carbon economy” in 2050. To this end, the Commission presents a roadmap for possible action up to 2050 which could enable the EU to meet its climate protection target for 2050. The roadmap is based on analysis of alternative scenarios.

Auctioning of greenhouse gas emission allowances (Draft Regulation)

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Since 2005 the framework of EU emission trading system (ETS) allows for certain stationary installations (e.g. for power and heat supply, for metal production and processing, for paper production and for the chemical industry) and, as of 2012, air traffic  may emit greenhouse gases only if the operators possess the according allowances. Pursuant to the ETS Directive as of 2012 Member States must auction all allowances for aviation and as of 2013 for stationary installations which are not allocated free of charge. The submitted Regulation Draft affects the timing, administration and other aspects of auctioning of these greenhouse gas emission allowances.

CO2 Reduction beyond 20% (Communication)

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The latest economic crisis has led to a substantial reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions. The Commission is examining the option of tightening greenhouse gas emission targets in 2020 from 20% to 30%. At the same time, it stresses that the current Communication’s purpose “is not to decide now” to move to a 30% target since “the conditions set are have clearly not yet been met”. However, it keeps this option still open.

Climate Policy post-Copenhagen (Communication)

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The Commission criticises the fact that the agreement among 29 Heads of State and Government on the Copenhagen Accord “falls well short“ of the EU’s objective to reach a “robust and effective legally binding“ follow-up agreement to the Kyoto Protocol. The Commission gives its view on financing of climate actions and adaptation measures, on the shortcoming of the Kyoto Protocol ant on international emissions trading. In order to keep up the momentum of global efforts to tackle climate change, the Commission outlines the main features of its further strategy.

Low Carbon Technologies (SET-Plan) (Communication)

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In order to attain independence from fossil fuels, the EU is planning to accelerate the development and introduction of various low carbon technologies with the help of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (“SET-Plan”). The Commission substantiates the strategic and technological targets, the planned measures and an estimation of how much private and public investment will be required for the research and development of low carbon technologies until 2020.

International Climate Finance (Communication)

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Without financial support for developing countries, it is likely that no global climate agreement will be reached. The Commission presents criteria for how these payments should be distributed among developed countries. Further the Commission discusses whether the share of the EU should be financed through the EU budget, a common EU climate fund or using the budgets of Member States.

Adapting to Climate Change (White Paper)

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According to the Commission climate change requires adaptation measures in key policy sectors such as health and social affairs, agriculture and infrastructure. In order to supplement the expenses of Member States and to share burdens, adaptation measures could be financed through EU spending programmes.

Climate Change Agreement (Communication)

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The Commission proposes highly ambitious climate protection targets for both developing and industrial countries. To this end, emissions trading is to be extended. In addition, financial support to developing countries is to be partially financed through EU bonds.

Energy Performance of Buildings (Directive)

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The Proposal by the Commission serves to recast the Directive on the energy performance of buildings. In future, when undergoing major renovations all buildings will have to comply with national minimum requirements for the energy performance of buildings. Member States are to set minimum requirements as to ensure that the total costs for the investment, maintenance and operation (incl. energy costs) of a building are minimised during its life-cycle. In addition, the energy performance of a building must be stated in all advertisements for sale or rent and the energy performance certificate must be shown to all prospective buyers or tenants.

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