EU Climate Action

The new EU global climate and energy vision presents the EU's offer to the world: using diplomacy to protect our core interests, promoting standards for a fair transition by assisting our partners to develop theirs, and addressing the new security threats and challenges that endanger both European interests and those of our partners.

While the new emissions trading system for road transport and buildings (ETS 2) already includes strong safeguards to ensure a smooth launch of the system and to keep carbon-price developments in check, the Commission has assessed additional ways to strengthen the stability and predictability of the ETS 2 regulatory framework ahead of its start.

The 2026 Commission work programme adresses current and future challenges arising from threats to our security and democracy, to conflicts and geopolitical tensions, to risks to our economy and industry, and accelerating climate change.

The European Parliament became the scene of an important gathering on Thursday, 16 October, with hundreds of mayors, local councillors and regional leaders coming from across Europe to reiterate their ongoing committment to the EU’s resilient and climate-neutral future.

On 30 September 2025, more than 1,600 people took part in a high-level conference under the heading Climate action that works for you: an agenda for competitiveness, prosperity and resilience. With President von der Leyen and Commissioner Hoekstra among the speakers from the Commission side, the day offered a moment of reflection and discussion on the future of climate action.

Building on 20 years of experience with the EU Emissions Trading System, the European Commission’s Task Force on International Carbon Pricing and Markets Diplomacy works with 25+ partner countries to advance high-integrity carbon pricing and markets policies.

Join our first ‘deep dive’ session as part of the new wave of EU Climate Action Academy webinars! This online event will delve into the role of youth in shaping climate policy and leading the way to COP30.

In November, the next Expert Group meeting will take place about the Delegated Act establishing the certification methodologies for direct air capture and storage (DACCS), biogenic emission capture and storage (BioCCS) and biochar carbon removal (BCR).

Private capitals can support climate action in diverse ways. Climate bonds are an innovative financing tool for local and regional governments to support their climate action plans. The webinar will introduce participants to the topic of bonds, and showcase the experience and replicable examples from European Cities, from the drafting of a strategy to the implementation of the tool.

The ICM Forum, previously known as the CCUS Forum, brings together since 2021 stakeholders from industry, national authorities, European Union institutions, NGOs, academia and others to discuss how to make the deployment of industrial carbon management projects a reality in Europe.

The Cross-Border Energy Communities (CBEC) initiative, developed under DG REGIO, has launched a Call for Proposal to foster structured cross-border cooperation in energy communities located in border regions. The call for proposals is open until 21 November 2025.

The European Commission plans to propose a Circular Economy Act to enhance the EU’s economic security and competitiveness, while promoting more sustainable production, circular economy business models and decarbonisation. Your input will be taken into account as we further develop and fine-tune this initiative.

In this video, participants from Colombia, Brazil, Japan and Chile share their views on how carbon pricing can benefit their countries — and the value of working together with the EU to develop strong, effective carbon markets.

On 27 October, youth representatives from across the EU met with Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra to discuss the EU’s climate ambitions for COP30. During the event, we challenged them to guess which EU countries’ youth care most about climate change. 🌎

85% of EU citizens see climate change as a serious threat. 49% encounter climate disinfo on social media. Through data on climate, transparency & countering disinfo, the EU empowers citizens to make informed choices.