Climate change – Paris Agreement, ratified by EU

KEY POINTS

• Under the agreement, EU countries will:
  • meet the long-term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2^oC, compared to pre-industrial levels;
  • pursue extra efforts to limit the increase to 1.5^oC;
  • prepare and apply national action plans (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) to meet these targets;
  • report to each other and to the public on the progress they are making on their commitments;
  • from 2023, conduct a planet-wide stocktake every 5 years with international partners, to set further targets based on scientific evidence and the results achieved;
  • take measures to deal with the impact of climate change that is already unavoidable;
  • provide practical and financial support to developing countries, to help them adapt to climate change.

EU action on climate change so far

• In 2014, EU countries set themselves a binding target of cutting greenhouse emissions by 40 % by 2030, compared with 1990 levels.
• This will involve switching to clean, sustainable energy forms, which must also be competitive and affordable. The EU recognises the need for incentives to encourage the necessary investment in this field.