EU Commission sets new emissions targets for EU members

The European Commission has presented additional measures to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.



Measures include new binding annual greenhouse gas emission targets for Member States for the period 2021–2030 for the sectors of the economy not regulated under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), mainly buildings, transport, agriculture and waste management. Emissions cut targets will range between zero (Bulgaria) to 40% (Sweden and Luxembourg), on the basis on each country's GDP per capita level: more ambitious targets are proposed to higher income countries.



Existing flexibility mechanisms will be maintained and EU country will still be able to bank any surplus annual emission allocations (AEAs) and use them in later years when limits are lower. In years where emissions are higher than the annual limit, they can borrow AEAs from the following year. In addition, the Commission introduces new flexibility mechanisms: eligible Member States will be allowed to achieve their national targets by covering some emissions in the non-ETS sectors with EU ETS allowances which would normally have been auctioned, generating revenue for that country. In addition, this proposal permits up to 280 MtCO₂ to be credited from certain land categories to be used for national targets over the entire period from 2021-2030, in order to stimulate additional action in the land use sector.



Complementary legislative proposals are envisaged for later in 2016 to help achieve the targets agreed by the European Council of at least 27% for the share of renewable energy by 2030 and the same target for improving energy efficiency (this will be reviewed by 2020, having in mind an EU level of 30%). Further work will also be carried out to reduce GHG emissions from the transport sector.