The European Commission has taken many climate-related initiatives since 1991, when it issued the first Community strategy to limit carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and improve energy efficiency. These include: a directive to promote electricity from renewable energy, voluntary commitments by car makers to reduce CO2 emissions by 25% and proposals on the taxation of energy products.

However, it is clear that action by both member states and the European Community needs to be reinforced if the EU is to succeed in cutting its greenhouse gas emissions to 8% below 1990 levels by 2008-2012, as required by the Kyoto protocol.

The EU Council of Environment Ministers acknowledged the importance of taking further steps at Community level by asking the Commission to put forward a list of priority actions and policy measures.

The Commission responded in June 2000 by launching the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP). The goal of the ECCP is to identify and develop all the necessary elements of an EU strategy to implement the Kyoto Protocol.

The development of the ECCP has involved all the relevant groups of stakeholders working together, including representatives from the Commission’s different departments (DGs), the Member States, industry and environmental groups.

First Phase of the European Climate Change Programme (2000-2001)

The ECCP’s initial work to develop further policies and measures focused on the energy, transport and industry sectors. Therefore, a number of working groups were set up to consider and give recommendations on the most important options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively.

Second Phase of the European Climate Change Programme (2002-2003)

The first task of the second phase of the ECCP is to facilitate and support the actual implementation of the priorities identified in the first phase. The ECCP Steering Committee is following up on progress made so far through the ECCP.