The Effort Sharing Regulation is a policy framework, part of the

European Union climate and energy package The European plan on climate change consists of a range of measures adopted by the members of the European Union to fight against climate change. The plan was launched in March 2007, and after months of tough negotiations between the member count ...

. It sets binding national

greenhouse gas A greenhouse gas (GHG or GhG) is a gas that absorbs and emits radiant energy within the thermal infrared range, causing the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are water vapor (), carbon dioxide (), met ...

targets for each of the 27 Member States of the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been ...

, collectively amounting to a 30% cut in emissions by 2030 (from a 2005 baseline). Its predecessor, the Effort Sharing Decision, covered the years up to 2020 which collectively amount to a 10% cut in emissions between 2005 and 2020. These cuts cover the areas such as transport, infrastructure, agriculture, and waste. It is the companion policy to the European Union Emissions Trading System, which covers emission cuts in power and industry.

Discussion

As the starting level of the reduction is actually too high, in the end a reduction of only 25.5% will be achieved, not the desired and declared 30%.

References

Climate change in the European Union Energy in the European Union Energy policy {{EU-stub