European Climate Law
- Category: European Union Carbon Market Glossary
European Climate Law is part of the European Green Deal, i.e. "a new growth strategy that aims to transform the EU into a fair and prosperous society and combines policies to tackle climate change, to protect and restore biodiversity, eliminate pollution, to move to a circular economy, and to ensure that no one is left behind in the green transition" (Report of 14 October 2020 from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the State of the Energy Union pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, COM(2020) 950 final).
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6 February 2024
Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’) published in the EU Official Journal
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The European Commission has proposed a European Climate Law (COM(2020)80 and COM(2020)563) that is intended to include the goal of EU 2050 climate neutrality into legislation, provide predictability and make the transition towards a climate-neutral economy irreversible. It has turned the European Green Deal into an investment and reform plan for Europe that offers a double dividend, as the reforms and investments needed for the green transition can also boost the recovery.
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LinksTo start the process of steering Europe’s policy and regulatory framework towards the EU’s renewed ambition, the European Commission has presented new strategies to better prepare for the challenges ahead, for instance by energy system integration and by increasing the use of hydrogen.
The Commission has therefore proposed to step up Europe’s 2030 climate ambition by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% (COM(2020) 562).
The draft European Climate Law contained a provision that the European Union institutions and all Member States phase out all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies by 31 December 2025 at the latest, and mobilise sustainable investment accordingly. The phasing out of these subsidies shall not impact on efforts to combat energy poverty.
European Climate Law has been published in the EU Official Journal on 9 July 2021 and entered into force on 29 July 2021.
On 6 February 2024 the European Commission presented recommendation for 2040 emissions reduction target to set the path to climate neutrality in 2050. The proposal is intended to lead to a respective amendment of the European Climate Law.