Summaries of EU legislation
Environment and climate change

The EU has some of the world’s highest environmental standards, developed over decades. Environment policy helps the EU economy become more environmentally friendly, protects Europe’s natural resources, and safeguards the health and wellbeing of people living in the EU.
Environmental quality is central to our health, our economy and our well-being. However, it faces several serious challenges, not least those of climate change, unsustainable consumption and production, as well as various forms of pollution.
EU environmental policies and legislation protect natural habitats, keep air and water clean, ensure proper waste disposal, improve knowledge about toxic chemicals and help businesses move toward a sustainable economy.
On climate change, the EU formulates and implements climate policies and strategies, taking a leading role in international negotiations on climate. It is committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the Paris Agreement and implementing the EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). In this regard, EU countries have agreed to meet various targets in the years to come. The EU seeks to ensure that climate concerns are taken on board in other policy areas (e.g. transport and energy) and also promotes low-carbon technologies and adaptation measures.
EU environment policy is based on Articles 11 and 191-193 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Under Article 191, combating climate change is an explicit objective of EU environmental policy. Sustainable development is an overarching objective for the EU, which is committed to a ‘high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment’ (Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union).
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Tackling climate change
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EU climate change policy
- EU policy framework for climate and energy (2020 to 2030)
- Moving towards a low-carbon economy in 2050
- Long-term climate policy
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Reducing greenhouse gases
- 2030 climate and energy framework – greenhouse gas emissions, land use change and forestry
- Union registry for emissions trading system allowances
- The new EU accreditation and verification regulation
- Reducing human-made greenhouse gases (fluorinated gases)
- Reducing greenhouse gases by 2020: Effort Sharing Decision
- Greenhouse gas emission allowance trading system
- EU registry of emissions trading system allowances (2013–2020)
- EU emissions trading system — auctioning regulation
- Emissions Trading System — Innovation Fund rules
- Combating illegal logging
- Climate action — binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions (2021–2030)
- Monitoring & adapting to climate change
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International agreements
- Bonn Agreement — dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances, including air pollution caused by shipping
- Tackling global climate change after 2020 (Paris Protocol)
- United Nations (UN) climate change negotiations — an overview
- UN climate negotiations: Kyoto Protocol — second commitment period
- UN climate negotiations: Kyoto Protocol — first commitment period
- The EU and the 2015 International Climate Change Agreement
- The Road from Paris: assessing the implications of the Paris Agreement on fighting climate change
- Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
- Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer
- EU registry of emissions trading system allowances (2013–2020)
- Conservation of African-Eurasian migratory waterbirds
- Climate change – Paris Agreement, ratified by EU
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Clean, efficient energy
- 2030 climate and energy framework – greenhouse gas emissions, land use change and forestry
- The future of carbon capture and storage in Europe
- Moving toward competitive sustainable and secure energy for Europe
- Encouraging the use of biomass as an alternative source of energy
- Ecodesign requirements — welding equipment
- Ecodesign requirements — external power supplies
- Ecodesign requirements — power transformers
- Climate action — binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions (2021–2030)
- Air pollution from medium combustion plants
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Energy efficiency
- Ecodesign and energy labelling — household dishwashers
- The Energy Charter Treaty and Protocol
- Energy efficiency: helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy security
- Energy performance of buildings
- Energy efficiency
- Energy consumption: Framework for labelling rules
- Efficient and safe hot-water boilers
- Electric and gas-powered vehicles — recharging/refuelling stations
- Ecodesign and energy labelling requirements — household refrigerators
- Ecodesign requirements — external power supplies
- Ecodesign requirements — electric motors and variable speed drives
- Ecodesign requirements — welding equipment
- Ecodesign and energy labelling requirements — washing machines and household washer-dryers
- Ecodesign requirements — servers and data storage products
- Ecodesign requirements — power transformers
- Ecodesign and energy labelling — electronic displays
- Eco-design for energy-using appliances
- Ecodesign and energy labelling — refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function
- Ecodesign and energy labelling — light sources and separate control gear
- Renewable energy
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Cleaner transport
- Transport targets
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Road & air transport
- Charging of heavy goods vehicles: Eurovignette Directive
- Greenhouse gas emission allowance trading and aviation
- Framework for creation of the single European sky (SES)
- Ecodesign requirements — electric motors and variable speed drives
- Cleaner fuels for road transport
- Clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles
- Rail, maritime & waterway transport
- Business: Environmental responsability
- Agriculture & land-useplanning
- Innovation framework
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EU climate change policy
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Air
- Air pollution from medium combustion plants
- Uniform rules concerning the approval of retrofit emission control devices (REC)
- Substances depleting the ozone layer
- Petrol vapour recovery at filling stations for cleaner air
- National emission limits for certain air pollutants
- Geneva Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
- EU rules on national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants
- Emissions of volatile organic compounds in paints, varnishes and vehicle refinishing products
- Cleaner air for Europe
- Carbon dioxide capture and storage
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Chemicals
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – how the European Union regulates chemicals
- Tackling threats posed by chemicals (Stockholm Convention)
- Safer detergents for European consumers
- Minamata Convention on Mercury
- International trade in hazardous chemicals (Rotterdam Convention)
- Major accidents involving dangerous chemicals
- Hazardous chemicals — rules on export and import
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Nature & biodiversity
- Alien and locally absent species
- Trade in seal products
- Wildlife trafficking — EU action plan
- Vulnerable marine ecosystems: protection from bottom fishing on the high seas
- The role of zoos in the conservation of biodiversity
- Voluntary partnership agreements on forest law enforcement, governance and trade
- Programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE) (2021-2027)
- Protection of laboratory animals
- OSPAR Convention
- Protecting Europe’s biodiversity (Natura 2000)
- Protecting biodiversity from invasive alien species
- Multiannual recovery plan for Mediterranean swordfish
- EU biodiversity strategy for 2030
- Ensuring trade in wild fauna and flora does not threaten their survival
- Convention on Biological Diversity — Cartagena protocol on biosafety
- Convention on Biological Diversity
- Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals — Bonn Convention
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
- Conservation of wild birds
- Conservation of fisheries resources and protection of marine ecosystems
- Conservation of certain stocks of migratory fish
- Bern Convention
- Noise
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Soil & forests
- Combating illegal logging
- Using sewage sludge in farming
- Voluntary partnership agreements on forest law enforcement, governance and trade
- Regulating GM crops: EU countries’ rights
- International Tropical Timber Agreement
- Licensing system for imports of timber to the EU
- Landfill of waste
- Genetically modified food & feed
- Combatting deforestation
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Waste
- Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal
- Use, storage and trade of mercury
- Urban waste water treatment
- Single-use plastics ban
- Shipments of radioactive substances
- Waste statistics
- Safe waste shipments within the EU and with non-EU countries
- Removal and disposal of disused offshore oil and gas installations
- Packaging and packaging waste
- Reducing the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags in the EU
- Port facilities for waste from ships, including cargo residues
- Radioactive waste & spent fuel - safety rules
- Radioactive waste shipments - supervision and control
- Restriction on the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment
- Landfill of waste
- Management of waste from extractive industries
- Making the most of waste electrical and electronic equipment
- EU waste management law
- Disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs)
- Disposal of spent batteries
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Water
- Addressing water scarcity and droughts in the EU
- Using alumina to remove fluoride from mineral waters
- Urban waste water treatment
- Single-use plastics ban
- Protection of groundwater against pollution
- Radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption: protection of public health
- Minimum requirements for water reuse
- Fighting water pollution from agricultural nitrates
- Flood-risk management in the EU
- Good-quality water in Europe (EU water directive)
- EU water resources protection plan
- Environmental quality standards applicable to surface water
- Drinking water — essential quality standards (until 2023)
- Drinking water — essential quality standards
- Bathing water quality
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Coastal & marine environment
- Barcelona Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean
- Strategy for the marine environment
- Vulnerable marine ecosystems: protection from bottom fishing on the high seas
- Safety of offshore oil and gas operations
- Safer and less polluting equipment on EU ships
- Protecting the sea and the food chain from the effects of organotin compounds
- OSPAR Convention
- Helsinki Convention on the protection of the Baltic Sea
- EU maritime information and exchange system
- Conservation of fisheries resources and protection of marine ecosystems
- Conservation of Antarctic marine living resources
- Bonn Agreement — dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances, including air pollution caused by shipping
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Industry & pollution
- European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR)
- Transboundary effects of industrial accidents
- Ship-source pollution and criminal penalties
- Ship recycling
- Recovery of petrol vapours during storage
- Kyiv Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers
- Management of waste from extractive industries
- Industrial emissions
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Pollution from vehicles
- CO2 emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles
- Reduction in CO2 emissions of new passenger cars and of new light commercial vehicles
- Reducing pollution from light motor vehicles
- Quality of petrol and diesel fuels: sulphur and lead
- Monitoring and reporting the CO2 emissions of heavy-duty vehicles
- Information on the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of new cars
- Fuels — reducing sulphur content
- End-of-life vehicles
- Emissions from heavy-duty vehicles (Euro VI): certification rules
- Emissions from air-conditioning systems in motor vehicles
- Emission limits and type-approval rules for non-road mobile machinery
- CO2 emissions and fuel consumption of heavy-duty vehicles
- Environmental agencies & bodies
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Environmental controls & assessments
- Assessment of the certain effects of plans and programmes on the environment (SEA)
- The EU’s infrastructure for spatial information (Inspire)
- The precautionary principle
- The polluter-pays principle and environmental liability
- Reliable benchmarking of environmental performance
- Kyiv Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers
- Integration of environmental aspects into European standardisation
- Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) and the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA Protocol)
- Better environmental performance: European eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS)
- Assessment of the effects of projects on the environment (EIA)
- Environmental crime
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Agreements — Environment
- Access to genetic resources and sharing of benefits arising from their utilisation (Nagoya Protocol)
- Access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters
- Agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the greenhouse gas emissions trading system (ETS)
- Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal
- Barcelona Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean
- Bern Convention
- Bonn Agreement — dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances, including air pollution caused by shipping
- Civil liability for oil pollution damage: Bunkers Convention
- Climate change – Paris Agreement, ratified by EU
- Compliance with rules on access and benefit-sharing arising from the use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge
- Conservation of Antarctic marine living resources
- Convention for the Conservation of Salmon in the North Atlantic Ocean
- Convention for the Protection of the Rhine
- Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) and the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA Protocol)
- Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals — Bonn Convention
- Convention on the Protection of the Alps
- Convention on Biological Diversity
- Convention on Biological Diversity — Cartagena protocol on biosafety
- Environmental information — public participation and access to justice (Aarhus Convention)
- EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
- Helsinki Convention on the protection of the Baltic Sea
- Helsinki Convention: preventing pollution in international watercourses and lakes
- Geneva Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
- ITER: Euratom/Japan agreement on nuclear fusion
- International Dolphin Conservation Programme
- Licensing system for imports of timber to the EU
- International Tropical Timber Agreement
- Minamata Convention on Mercury
- OSPAR Convention
- Public access to environmental information
- The Arctic region — new EU policy agenda
- The Energy Charter Treaty and Protocol
- Transboundary effects of industrial accidents
- United Nations Convention to combat desertification in countries seriously affected by drought
- Tackling threats posed by chemicals (Stockholm Convention)
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Conventions protecting specific areas
- Barcelona Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean
- The Arctic region — new EU policy agenda
- Helsinki Convention: preventing pollution in international watercourses and lakes
- Helsinki Convention on the protection of the Baltic Sea
- European Union Strategy for the Danube Region
- EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
- Convention on the Protection of the Alps
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
- Convention for the Conservation of Salmon in the North Atlantic Ocean
- Convention for the Protection of the Rhine
- Convention for the protection of the Danube
- Conservation of Antarctic marine living resources
- Conservation and management of high seas fishery resources in the South Pacific Ocean
- Bonn Agreement — dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances, including air pollution caused by shipping
- European statistics
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Archived summaries
- 2007 Environment Policy Review
- The management of bio-waste in the European Union
- The Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund
- Sustainable power generation from fossil fuels
- Sustainable Consumption, Production and Industry Action Plan
- Surveillance and monitoring of titanium dioxide waste
- Slovenia
- The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – Environment
- Slovakia
- Strengthening the European disaster response capacity
- Turkey – Environment
- Sixth Environment Action Programme
- Situation in 1999 and prospects for radioactive waste management
- Strategy to reduce atmospheric emissions from seagoing ships
- Strategy to improve maritime governance in the Mediterranean
- Strategy on the sustainable use of natural resources
- Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste
- Strategy on climate change: foundations of the strategy
- Strategy on climate change for 2020 and beyond
- Transport and the environment
- Single European Sky II
- Strategy for sustainable development
- Seventh Framework Programme (2007 to 2013)
- Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan)
- The EU forestry strategy
- The EU biodiversity strategy: a current review of progress
- Towards a strategy for soil protection
- Scientific Committees for consumer safety, public health and the environment
- The Czech Republic
- Towards a Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS)
- Towards a European Strategic Energy Technology Plan
- Towards a Community programme for flood risk management
- Thematic strategy on the urban environment
- Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution
- Thematic strategy for soil protection
- The World Summit on Sustainable Development one year on
- The operational priorities of the European Investment Bank
- White paper: European transport policy for 2010
- White Paper: A strategy for revitalising the Community's railways
- Whaling
- Water suitable for fish-breeding
- Waste incineration
- Waste electrical and electronic equipment
- The offshore protocol helps protect the Mediterranean Sea from pollution
- Romania
- Response to natural or man-made disasters
- Programme LIFE+
- Programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE) (2014-20)
- Programme for the promotion of short sea shipping
- Renewable Energy Road Map
- Passenger car related taxes
- Protocol on Heavy Metals
- Pricing and long-term management of water
- Protection of the aquatic environment against discharges of dangerous substances (until 2013)
- Preventive alert against emergencies
- Protection of certain seal species
- Reduction of pollution caused by waste from the titanium dioxide industry
- Reduction of pollution caused by waste from the titanium dioxide industry
- Pan-European cooperation after enlargement
- Protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises against incidental catch
- Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from light commercial vehicles
- Reduction in fluorinated greenhouse gases
- Reduction in CO2 emissions of new passenger cars
- Reducing the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Other substances: protection of groundwater
- Port facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues
- Reducing CO2 emissions from very heavy vehicles
- Pollutants from large combustion plants
- Polluting emissions from large combustion plants
- Pollutant gases of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors
- Promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources
- Quality of shellfish waters
- Promoting sustainable development in the non-energy extractive industry
- Poland
- Living well, within the limits of our planet: the 7th EAP (2014-20)
- Noise management at EU airports
- Lithuania
- New (novel) foods and food ingredients
- Mechanism for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions
- Internalisation of external transport costs
- Launching the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP)
- Multilateral Environment for Europe process
- Maritime safety: prevention of pollution from ships
- Latvia
- Maritime safety: compensation fund for oil pollution damage
- Kyoto Protocol on climate change
- Marine knowledge 2020
- Maritime Policy Green Paper
- Marine pollution from ships and gas and oil installations
- Integration of the environment into economic policy
- Motor vehicles: use of biofuels
- Malta
- Non-road mobile machinery: gaseous pollutants
- Financing of civil protection measures (2007-2013)
- Financial framework for the urban environment
- Freight transport logistics in Europe
- Industry and environment
- Greenhouse gases: reducing emissions by 20 % or more by 2020
- “Green” vehicles: a European strategy
- Greenhouse gas emissions - monitoring & reporting mechanism
- Green public procurement
- Implementing the Kyoto Protocol
- Implementation of Community environmental law in 2004
- Green Paper on energy efficiency
- Export and storage of mercury
- Iceland – Environment
- Integrating sustainable development into Community cooperation policy
- Integrated pollution prevention and control (until 2013)
- Integrating the environment into aerial transport
- Hungary
- Global partnership for sustainable development
- Global climate change alliance
- European Union forest action plan
- European satellite monitoring programme (Copernicus): climate aspects
- European Earth monitoring programme (GMES)
- Europe-Asia cooperation strategy
- EU-Russia environmental cooperation
- EU strategy for biofuels
- Estonia
- Environmental integration in external relations
- Environmental inspections: minimum criteria
- Environment Policy Review - 2008
- Environmental indicators
- Environmental agreements
- Environment strategy for the Mediterranean
- Environment and sustainable management of natural resources, including energy
- Environmental taxes and charges
- Environment and health strategy
- Energy efficiency for the 2020 goal
- Development and integrated management of coastal zones
- Destructive fishing practices in the high seas and the protection of ecosystems
- Disaster risk reduction in developing countries
- Disposal of titanium dioxide industrial waste
- Danube - Black Sea region
- Demonstration of the capture and storage of CO2
- Cyprus
- Croatia – Environment
- Conservation and management of sharks
- Controlled management of hazardous waste (until the end of 2010)
- Conservation and exploitation of marine resources
- Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) (2007-2013)
- Community strategy concerning mercury
- Community guidelines on State aid for environmental protection
- Combating invasive species
- Climate change in the context of development cooperation
- Clean Sky
- Civil Protection Mechanism
- Bulgaria
- Biodiversity strategy for 2020
- Biodiversity Action Plan for the Conservation of Natural Resources
- Building a sustainable future for aquaculture
- Biodiversity Action Plan for Fisheries
- Biodiversity Action Plan for Economic and Development Co-operation
- Biodiversity Action Plan for Agriculture
- Black Sea Synergy
- Aviation and climate change
- Bathing water quality (until 2014)
- Ban on trade in cat and dog fur
- An Energy Policy for Europe
- Addressing wildlife trafficking - EU action
- Agenda for a sustainable and competitive European tourism
- Action plan in favour of environmental technologies
- Action against noise: Green Paper
- Adapting to Climate Change
- Action Plan for Energy Efficiency (2007-12)
- Action Plan for biodiversity
- Action plan for an integrated maritime policy
- A programme for clean and competitive SMEs
- A strategy for the sustainable development of European aquaculture
- A strategy for better ship dismantling practices
- A strategy for integrating the environment into EU policies
- Access to justice in environmental matters
- 2020 climate and energy package