EU climate policy: from Kyoto commitments to the European Green Deal (1997–2020)

  1. Kyoto Protocol agreed at COP3

    Labels: Kyoto Protocol, COP3

    The Kyoto Protocol set binding greenhouse-gas limits for developed countries and enabled regional group commitments—creating the international framework the EU would implement through joint fulfilment and internal policies.

  2. EU agrees internal “burden-sharing” targets

    Labels: EU Council, Burden-sharing

    EU environment ministers agreed how the EU’s collective Kyoto target would be divided among Member States (the ‘EU bubble’), establishing differentiated national targets under joint fulfilment.

  3. EU approves Kyoto Protocol via Council Decision

    Labels: Council Decision, European Community

    Council Decision 2002/358/EC approved the Kyoto Protocol on behalf of the European Community and formalised joint fulfilment of the EU’s commitments, embedding the burden-sharing arrangement in EU law.

  4. EU ETS created by Emissions Trading Directive

    Labels: EU ETS, Emissions Trading

    Directive 2003/87/EC established the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), creating the EU’s flagship cap-and-trade instrument for power and energy-intensive industry.

  5. Kyoto mechanisms linked to EU ETS

    Labels: Linking Directive, CDM JI

    Directive 2004/101/EC (‘Linking Directive’) allowed regulated entities to use certain Kyoto project credits (CDM/JI) for compliance, integrating international flexibility mechanisms into the EU ETS design.

  6. EU ETS launches its first trading period

    Labels: EU ETS, Phase I

    The EU ETS began operating, starting a first ‘learning’ phase (2005–2007) intended to build the carbon market infrastructure ahead of the Kyoto commitment period.

  7. European Council endorses 20-20-20 headline goals

    Labels: European Council, 20-20-20

    EU leaders backed the core 2020 architecture—cutting greenhouse-gas emissions, raising renewables’ share, and improving energy efficiency—providing political direction for binding legislation.

  8. Commission proposes “20 20 by 2020” package

    Labels: European Commission, 20-20 by

    The Commission adopted its ‘20 20 by 2020’ communication (COM(2008) 30), presenting the main legislative approach for achieving the EU’s 2020 climate and energy objectives.

  9. EU adopts 2020 Climate and Energy Package

    Labels: 2020 Package, EU legislation

    The EU adopted binding 2020 legislation underpinning the “20-20-20” targets, including reforms and extensions of climate and energy measures across Member States and sectors.

  10. Renewable Energy Directive sets binding 2020 shares

    Labels: Renewable Energy, Directive 2009

    Directive 2009/28/EC established binding national renewable-energy targets and an EU-wide 20% renewables target for 2020, becoming a central pillar of the 2020 framework.

  11. Effort Sharing Decision sets non-ETS targets

    Labels: Effort Sharing, Non-ETS sectors

    Decision No 406/2009/EC set binding national greenhouse-gas limits for sectors outside the EU ETS (e.g., transport, buildings, agriculture, waste) to 2020, complementing ETS coverage.

  12. EU ETS revised for post-2012 operation

    Labels: EU ETS, Directive 2009

    Directive 2009/29/EC amended the EU ETS ahead of Phase III (from 2013), strengthening and extending the system to improve cost-effectiveness and integrity.

  13. Monitoring Mechanism Regulation strengthens EU reporting

    Labels: Monitoring Mechanism, Regulation 525

    Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 enhanced EU-level monitoring, reporting, and verification of greenhouse-gas emissions and climate-policy implementation, supporting compliance and transparency.

  14. EU agrees 2030 climate and energy framework

    Labels: 2030 Framework, European Council

    The European Council endorsed the 2030 framework, including a binding EU target of at least 40% greenhouse-gas reductions by 2030 versus 1990 and targets for renewables and efficiency.

  15. Market Stability Reserve legislated for EU ETS

    Labels: Market Stability, Decision 2015

    Decision (EU) 2015/1814 established an EU ETS Market Stability Reserve (MSR) to address surplus allowances; operation of placing allowances into the MSR was set to begin in 2019.

  16. Effort Sharing Regulation adopted for 2021–2030

    Labels: Effort Sharing, 2021 2030

    Regulation (EU) 2018/842 set binding national annual emission limits for non-ETS sectors for 2021–2030, implementing part of the EU’s 2030 framework outside the ETS.

  17. LULUCF Regulation adopted for land-sector accounting

    Labels: LULUCF Regulation, Land sector

    Regulation (EU) 2018/841 integrated land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) into the EU’s 2030 climate framework through accounting rules and compliance provisions.

  18. Governance Regulation adopted for Energy Union planning

    Labels: Governance Regulation, Energy Union

    Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 created an integrated governance system (including National Energy and Climate Plans) to coordinate delivery of 2030 climate and energy targets and Paris Agreement obligations.

  19. Commission presents the European Green Deal

    Labels: European Green, Commission Communication

    The Commission issued Communication COM(2019) 640, launching the European Green Deal as a growth strategy and setting the direction toward climate neutrality by 2050 and higher near-term ambition.

  20. Commission proposes European Climate Law

    Labels: European Climate, Commission proposal

    The Commission proposed the European Climate Law (COM(2020) 80) to enshrine the 2050 climate-neutrality objective in legislation and create a framework to steer EU policy consistency.

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Last Updated:Jan 1, 1980

EU climate policy: from Kyoto commitments to the European Green Deal (1997–2020)