The Paris Agreement, which was adopted in 2015 by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is an international effort to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C. The European Union (EU) is one of the signatories to this agreement, and it has set ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with these goals.
In particular, the EU has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. This target is part of the EU`s wider 2030 climate and energy framework, which also includes a target to increase the share of renewable energy in the EU`s final energy consumption to at least 32%, as well as a 32.5% target for energy efficiency improvements.
The EU`s efforts to achieve these targets are based on a number of different policy measures, including the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), which is the world`s largest carbon market. The ETS works by putting a cap on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that can be emitted by certain industries, such as power stations and factories. Companies are then required to buy permits in order to emit greenhouse gases, which creates a financial incentive for them to reduce their emissions.
In addition to the ETS, the EU has also introduced a range of other policy measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including regulations on the energy efficiency of buildings, the promotion of public transport and the use of biofuels, and measures to reduce emissions from the transport sector.
Despite these efforts, the EU still faces significant challenges in meeting its targets. In particular, some member states are heavily reliant on coal and other fossil fuels for their energy needs, which makes it difficult to reduce emissions. There is also concern that the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to a temporary increase in greenhouse gas emissions, as governments focus on economic recovery at the expense of climate action.
However, the EU remains committed to its targets, and it is working to ensure that they are achieved. This includes ongoing efforts to increase the share of renewable energy in the EU`s energy mix, as well as measures to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions from the transport sector. Ultimately, the success of these efforts will depend on a combination of policy measures, technological innovations, and changes in public attitudes towards climate change.