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Climate Action

Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action

To help the EU reach its 2030 climate and energy targets, the Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union sets common rules for planning, reporting and monitoring. The Regulation also ensures that EU planning and reporting are synchronised with the ambition cycles under the Paris Agreement.

Integrated national energy and climate plans

Under the Governance Regulation, EU Member States develop integrated national energy and climate plans based on a common template.

The plans cover the five dimensions of the Energy Union:

  1. decarbonisation (greenhouse gas reduction and renewables)
  2. energy security
  3. energy efficiency
  4. internal energy market
  5. research, innovation and competitiveness

Member States had to submit their 2021-2030 draft plans by the end of 2018 and final plans by the end of 2019. The Commission has assessed these both at EU and Member State level.

Member States will need to update their national energy and climate plans by the end of June 2023 in a draft form and by 30 June 2024 in a final form in order to reflect an increased ambition.

Until then, Member States can adapt national policies and measures at any time, provided such changes are included in the biennial integrated national energy and climate progress reports to the Commission.

National long-term strategies

Member States are also required to develop national long-term strategies and ensure consistency between these strategies and their national energy and climate plans.

Climate reporting

The Governance Regulation includes the necessary elements to track progress in the implementation of EU climate legislation, such as the Effort Sharing Regulation and the LULUCF Regulation.

It also lays down a monitoring mechanism for greenhouse gas emissions and other climate information so that the EU will be able to comply with its reporting obligations under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement.

Integrated national energy and climate progress reporting

The Commission monitors the progress of the EU as a whole, in particular as part of the annual State of the Energy Union report.

Member States will report on the progress made in implementing their energy and climate policies, including their national energy and climate plans, for the first time in March 2023.

Documentation

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