UE’s ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is more and more obvious due to the legislative regulations it initiates and the projects aimed to meet the set targets. Therefore, according to EU analyses, emissions need to be reduced by 80-95% until 2050 compared to 1990, while, at world level, a dramatic reduction of emissions is required for the purpose of limiting the climate changes to less than 2°C.
In order to accomplish the targets set in June, EC has adopted the new Energy Efficiency Directive, having in view the reduction of energy consumption by 20% until 2020 (in terms of quantity, this means 368 million tonnes). Only one month after the launch of the Directive, EC launched the financial instrument named the European Energy Efficiency Fund (EEE-F), which will grant funds amounting to EUR 265 Million and, additionally, EUR 20 Million as subsidies for project development services.
The 6 measures indicated by EC are also based on the implementation of the other policy actions under the initiative within Europe 2020 Strategy for a resource-efficient Europe.
As regards the energy saving potential, transports rank second. Until 2030, the target for the transport sector will be the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by almost 20 % compared to 2008. Considering the significant increase of emissions gene-rated by transports during the past decades, this reduction would mean an 8% increase compared to 1990.
Stricter rules are necessary
Another project aimed at cutting emissions was presented by EC at the end of November 2011, legislation that intends to enhance the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions, in particular to meet new requirements arising from the package of EU climate and energy laws for the period 2014-2020.
“By improving transparency, coordination and the quality of data reported, the proposal contributes to keeping better track of our progress towards meeting our emissions targets. This proposal will also help monitor and report emissions generated by sectors such as 
train operation, change of train destination and especially the aviation and maritime transport sectors”, declared Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action.
The legislative proposal includes five main targets aimed at facilitating the development of EU innovative climate policies by approaching emissions generated by sectors, in particular the transport sector and will offer support for a better track of the progress with meeting the emissions targets.
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