technology

The Role of Industrial Emissions Within the EU: Trends and Policy

SNA — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 12:01:30 +0000

Greenhouse gas emissions generated by industrial activity constitute a significant share of total emissions in the EU. The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) is the cornerstone of policies leading to reduction of industrial emissions, supplemented by regulation to prevent fluorinated gases. Industry fears a high burden under the proposed 2030 targets and actively opposes them.Read more

Discussion of Climate Policy Instrument Types Applied in the EU

SNA — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 10:52:37 +0000

The main instrument categories applied within the European climate policy mix include non-market-based and market-based instruments. Both instrument types have specific characteristics and thus certain advantages and disadvantages. A hybrid policy approach can reduce short comings and lead to an improved outcome in comparison to the introduction of a single policy type.Read more

Market-Based Climate Policy Instruments

SNA — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 09:56:30 +0000

European climate policies apply a mix of different policy instruments to impose emissions reductions. Main instrument categories include non-market-based and market-based instruments. This knowledge package introduces the workings of market-based instruments currently part of the EU’s climate policy toolbox.Read more

Non-Market-Based Climate Policy Instruments

SNA — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 08:56:57 +0000

European climate policies apply a mix of different policy instruments to impose emissions reductions. Main instrument categories include non-market-based and market-based instruments. This knowledge package introduces the workings of non-market-based instruments currently part of the EU’s climate policy toolbox.Read more

Electricity Market Design and Price Signals for Renewables

SNA — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 08:50:04 +0000

This knowledge package focuses on electricity market design to support an efficient integration of renewable sources into the European electricity system, in line with the 2020 and forthcoming 2030 targets. Considering the sustainable electricity market design, looking into design principles for integrating variable renewable energy and bridging emerging technologies, it concludes the broad variety in terms of market design possibilities.Read more

Climate Change Adaptation: Options and Mechanisms under the UNFCCC

SNA — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 11:16:02 +0000

With a changing climate and the related impacts, social systems need to adapt to altered external conditions. Diverse adaptation options are available for every major sector of the economy. Also the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change pursues different strategies to enhance action on adaptation, both on the national and the global scale. Additionally, the Adaptation Committee plans to...Read more

Community Energy Projects: Europe's Pioneering Task

SNA — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 11:09:29 +0000

Involving citizens in the generation of renewable energy can increase social acceptance and thus enable the low carbon energy transition. The EU is taking a leading role in community-owned energy projects since this has emerged common practice in EU Member States. Denmark and Germany constitute two best practice examples for community energy generation. Denmark focuses on wind power plants, while...Read more

Do Biofuels Destroy Forests? Link between Deforestation and Biofuel Use

SNA — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 09:51:11 +0000

Sustainable biofuels have the potential to foster rural development and to replace fossil fuels. Although there are concerns about food security, impacts on small-scale farmers, more competition for water, local pollution and increased deforestation, this knowledge package concludes that various difficulties make it impossible to quantify the relationship between biofuel production and deforestation and to map it at the global...Read more

Mitigation: Co-Benefits and Interlinkages to Adaptation

SNA — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 09:49:10 +0000

Climate mitigation is a popular strategy to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Various options are available for both mitigation policy and technology measures, providing enough economic potential to offset the projected emissions growth. It is crucial for policymakers to be aware of possible side effects, such as co-benefits and interlinkages to adaptation, to pursue a cost-effective implementation...Read more

History of the UN Climate Negotiations - Part 1 - from the 1980's to 2010

melanie.schlund — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 08:06:01 +0000

Based on first scientific insights on climate change, policy makers agreed in 1992 on a UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Since then, the UNFCCC has been the basis for climate negotiations with the Kyoto Protocol (1997), the Marrakech Accords (2001) and the Cancun Agreements (2010) as major milestones. This Knowledge Package explains how climate policy making has increasingly...Read more

Interactions between Climate Policies: Examples from Europe

melanie.schlund — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 09:52:03 +0000

Policies to address climate change mitigation that have been deployed in parallel may interact with each other, with positive or negative effects for emission reductions and for cost-effectiveness. This Knowledge Package presents examples from European Union climate policy, renewable energy policy and energy efficiency policy.Read more

Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy

melanie.schlund — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 08:29:09 +0000

It is essential to consider the social aspects that influence the acceptance of climate-friendly technologies, such as renewable energy. Five elements are thought to determine the level of acceptance: awareness of climate change; fairness of the decision-making process; the overall evaluation of costs, risks and benefits; the local context; and trust in decision-makers.Read more

European Climate Policy - History and State of Play

dmk — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 14:28:14 +0000

Climate policies in the EU have been developing since 1990, introducing common measures in the areas of greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energies and energy efficiency. An EU-wide climate policy framework has been developed, implemented, and revised over time. With the 2030 goals set in 2014, specific changes for the post 2020 period are under discussion.Read more