EU Climate Change Strategies,

Targets and Actions

Presented by
Aehtsham Ul Haq

Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi 1

Contents

 The Latest Climate Science

 Climate Changes Consequences
 Strategies
 Targets
 Actions
 International actions

Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi 2

The Latest Climate Science
 IPCC 5th Assessment Report – Key findings:

 Warming of the climate system is unequivocal

 Human influence on the climate system is clear

 Each of the last three decades has been successively warmer

at the Earth’s surface than any preceding decade since 1850

 Cutting down rainforests, farming livestock and Continued

emissions of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and
changes in all components of the climate system.
Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi
3
The Latest Climate Science

 Limiting climate change would require substantial and

sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions which,
together with adaptation, can limit climate change risks.

 “Climate change and environmental degradation exacerbate

potential conflict, in light of their impact on desertification, land
degradation, and water and food scarcity”. - EU Global
Strategy 2016

Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi 4

Climate Changes Consequences
 Melting ice and rising seas

 Extreme weather, shifting rainfall

 Southern and central Europe >>>> heat waves, forest fires and
droughts

 The Mediterranean area>>>> drier, making it even more

vulnerable to drought and wildfires.

 Northern Europe >>>> significantly wetter, and winter floods could

become common. 5

Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi

Climate Changes Consequences

 Urban areas >>>> 4 out of 5 Europeans are exposed to heat

waves, flooding or rising sea levels, but are often ill-equipped for
adapting to climate change.

 Costs for society and economy

 Effected 5.5 million people and loss of economy more than €90 billion (1980-
2011)

 Risks for wildlife

Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi 6

Strategies
 Key climate and energy targets are set in the:

 2020 climate and energy package

 2030 climate and energy framework
 2050 long-term strategy

 The EU tracks its progress on cutting emissions through

regular monitoring and reporting.

 Before proposing new policies, the Commission

carefully assesses their potential impacts. 7
Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi
 Target 2020 and 2030

8
Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi
Targets 2020
 Emissions trading system (ETS): 45% covered and target to get
21% lower than 2005.
 National emission reduction targets:
 Housing
 Agriculture
 Waste
 Transport (excluding aviation)
 A 10% share of renewables in the transport sector.
 Innovation and financing NER300 program for renewable energy
technologies and carbon capture & storage.
 Benefits
Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi 9
Target 2030
 Key targets for 2030:

 At least 40% cuts in greenhouse gas emissions (from 1990

levels)
 At least 32% share for renewable energy
 At least 32.5% improvement in energy efficiency
 National Energy and Climate Plans
 National long-term strategies
 Benefits

Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi 10

Target 2050
 The European Commission calls for a climate-neutral
Europe by 2050.

 EU policies and is in line with the Paris Agreement objective

to keep the global temperature increase to well below 2°C
and pursue efforts to keep it to 1.5°C.

 Stakeholder input

 Next steps
Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi 11
 Target 2050
Total EU GHG emissions trend
6.000

20% reduction
5.000
compared to 1990

4.000
At least 40% reduction
compared to 1990

3.000
Mt CO2 equivalent

2.000

1.000 80% reduction

compared to 1990

0
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050

Source: EEA, Commission

Historic emissions Projections with existing measures (based on MS submissions)

Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi 12

Action

 EU Policy Responses

 Climate change adaptation strategies

 Development and humanitarian aid programs
 Peace building and conflict prevention programs

Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi 13

Action

The EU example: climate action and economic growth can go hand-in hand

46% GDP

-23% GHG
emission

Source: European Commission based on data compiled by EEA

Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi 14
International action on climate change
 Fighting climate change requires action from
all countries across the world.
 The EU is working to promote ambitious
global action through the UN climate convention (UNFCCC) and
other international forum
 Bilateral relations with non-EU countries
 Policies and initiatives at EU and international level
 Finance to support developing countries in their efforts to tackle
climate change.
15
Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi
 EU scaling-up climate relevant grants for
Developing Countries

Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi 16

 Thank You

Instructure: Dr. Zohaib Rehman Afridi 17