Climate Policy of the European Union: Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Industrial Enterprises

Abstract

The global climate is determined by the global average temperature, which depends on the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, which continue to rise. The key to addressing climate change is to reduce emissions and reduce GHG concentrations through removals. As part of the global climate agenda, a goal has been developed: to reach net-zero emissions in the second half of the 21st century (anthropogenic emissions should be equal to GHG removals). Currently, the climate policy of developed countries is undergoing a stage of major changes, and new energy technologies play the main role in this process. At the same time, the future of global energy and climate is increasingly dependent on decisions made in emerging market and developing countries. Emerging market and developing economies now account for more than two-thirds of global CO2 emissions, while emissions in advanced economies are declining structurally. On a per capita basis, emissions are a quarter of those of advanced economies, but economic growth and rising incomes create potential for demand and emissions growth. The challenge for developing countries is to find new models of economic development that avoid high levels of emissions, rather than repeating the path traveled by developed countries. Lowering the cost of key clean energy technologies opens up opportunities for lower-emission economic growth, addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development goals.