EU Climate Action

Last year’s emissions under the EU’s Emission Trading System (ETS) show the most significant annual emissions reductions since the ETS was launched in 2005. The main driver is the power sector’s significant progress in decarbonisation.

On 30 April, the Commission awarded nearly €720 million to seven renewable hydrogen projects in Europe, selected through the first competitive bidding process under the European Hydrogen Bank. The funds for this auction come from EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) revenues.

The Innovation Fund’s 2023 call for proposals for net-zero technologies has received 337 applications from 27 countries. These proposals will compete for the call’s €4 billion budget made available through EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) revenues.

The 2023 European State of the Climate (ESOTC) report, produced jointly by the Copernicus Climate Change Service’s (C3S*) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), sound a warning bell for urgent coordinated global action to mitigate climate change.

A sharp increase in burnt areas was recorded during the summer months of 2023, mostly affecting the Mediterranean region. By total burnt surface area, 2023 was the fourth worst year since 2000.

The Commission has adopted an amendment to the 2023-24 Work Programme of Horizon Europe, the EU's research and innovation programme. The amendment mobilises previously unallocated Horizon Europe funding to increase the 2024 budget by nearly €1.4 billion to a total of €7.3 billion.

The European Commission has approved a €2.2 billion German scheme to support investments in the decarbonisation of industrial production processes to foster the transition to a net-zero economy, in line with the Green Deal Industrial Plan.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, €1 billion Greek measures to support two projects for the generation and storage of renewable energy in Greece. The measures contribute to achieving Greece's climate and energy targets, as well as the objectives of the European Green Deal.

In order to help deliver an environmentally sustainable transport network that contributes to the ambitious objectives laid out in the EU Green Deal, the European Union will support 42 projects with more than €424 million of funding for the roll-out of alternative fuels supply infrastructure.

On 12 April, the strengthened Energy Performance of Buildings Directive was adopted, another milestone of the European Green Deal. This legislation sets the framework for Member States to reduce emissions and energy use in buildings across the EU.

On 12 April, the Commission announced 20 laureates of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Prizes 2024, which were organised with funding from the Cohesion Policy. These prizes reward outstanding projects and initiatives that combine sustainability, inclusion and aesthetics.

The LIFE Citizens’ Prize allows you to vote for your preferred candidate. Scroll down, discover the stories and vote for your favourite LIFE project! Winners will be announced at the LIFE Awards 2024 ceremony on 30 May - registrations for attendance are open!

Our Climate Pact photo competition is a chance to show climate action around you to inspire others across Europe. You don’t have to be the world’s best photographer to enter – anyone can take part! Our top 10 winners will receive an invitation to our 2025 event in Brussels (with travel and accommodation included) and see their winning image in a physical exhibition, along with a digital certificate and features across Climate Pact platforms.

On Earth Day we celebrated our precious 🌍, our one and only home. That's why the 🇪🇺 is committed to becoming climate-neutral by 2050, so that future generations can celebrate planet Earth, just as we can.

#EarthDay reminded us to talk to our family, friends (and foes) about the future of our one home, planet Earth! 🌍 To be well prepared for these kinds of conversations, you can read our #EUClimatePact toolkit on how to talk to people about #ClimateChange, link in our Instagram bio 🔗

Transport is responsible for 1/4 of all greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, and road transport makes up 70% of that amount. These emissions primarily come from petrol and diesel cars, therefore by switching to electric vehicles (EVs), less greenhouse gas emissions will be emitted into the atmosphere – making transport greener and helping us reach our 🇪🇺 climate goals.

Floods, droughts, wildfires, heatwaves: adapting to life in a world impacted by climate change and managing its various risks is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges of our time.

The EU-funded CarbFix2 project recently tested and upscaled groundbreaking carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. What makes CarbFix2’s innovation unique is that captured CO2 is dissolved in large volumes of water, and then permanently stored underground in the form of rock.

While many brands are walking the talk, others are still trying to attract well-meaning consumers with misleading or exaggerated claims. Amid a sea of green claims and labels, how can we separate genuine sustainability efforts from marketing hype?

Launched by the European Commission, the Pact is part of the European Green Deal and is helping the EU to meet its goal to become climate-neutral by 2050 | Check out the links below to visit the Pact website and subscribe to the Pact newsletter!