Long-term Climate Strategies in Europe: Experience from National and EU-wide 2050 Climate Planning

Matthias Duwe; Ewa Iwaszuk

Long-term Climate Strategies in Europe: Experience from National and EU-wide 2050 Climate Planning

Publication: Case Study
Citation: Matthias Duwe and Ewa Iwaszuk, Ecologic Institute. 2019. "LTS in Europe: Experience from National and EUwide 2050 Climate Planning."

This case study, prepared by Ecologic Institute and published by World Resources Institute (WRI) describes the status quo and relevant recent developments at the EU and national levels on long-term climate strategies, detailing relevant insights on legal obligations, specific features, existing challenges, and potential future processes. Planning for 2050 is a core strand of debate in the European Union at present, focusing on a long-term EU objective and a strategy to be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by 2020. In parallel, all EU Member States are also developing national strategies, resulting in a wealth of experience but also a set of disjointed strategies, which will need alignment and integration, with each other and with the EU level. The case study, written by Ecologic Institute's Matthias Duwe and Ewa Iwaszuk, is available for download.

Contact

Matthias Duwe

Head, Climate

Fourth Meeting of the Policymaker Platform (PMP4)

22 - 23 October 2019
Berlin, Germany

Publication:Policy Brief

Climate planning for 2050 has become a core strand of debate in the European Union. Focus has shifted to a potential revision of the EU's long-term climate objectives within the context of a new 2050 strategy, which is to be submitted to the United Nations under the Paris Agreement by 2020. In parallel, all EU Member States must develop national strategies of their own, albeit with little central guidance and no overarching structure in place for collaboration.

Planning for 2050 – Shifting the focus towards long-term climate objectives

Year 2019

Event:Conference

The conference "Planning for 2050", organised by Ecologic Institute, will take place on 23 May 2019 in Brussels. It takes stock of the experience with long-term climate strategies gained in Europe and presents lessons learnt as well as challenges encountered in different Member States – and seeks to connect them to the EU's own overall 2050 vision. It is based on insights, conversations and contacts made through a set of dialogue meetings held under the "Climate Recon 2050" project, which brought together policymakers and technical experts involved in long-term strategies from around the EU. A conference brochure, summarising insights from the Climate Recon 2050 project, is available online.

Planning for 2050 – Conference

23 May 2019
Brussels, Belgium

Event:Workshop

The third set of dialogue workshops for government officials and experts from the "Climate Recon 2050" project were held in Copenhagen at the end of February 2019. The project team have been organizing two main fora for that workshop: a Technical Dialogue, for modellers and other experts designing 2050 climate policy scenarios – and a Policy-Maker Platform, to create a space for experience sharing among representatives from different EU countries.

Dialogues on Long-Term Climate Strategies

27 - 28 February 2019
Copenhagen, Denmark

Event:Conference

On Wednesday, 12 December 2018, Ecologic Institute, Energiaklub, and Negawatt hosted a side-event at the COP24 on behalf of the project ClimateRecon 2050 to present specific examples of long-term climate strategies in Europe.

Momentum on Long-Term Climate Strategies: Where We Are in Europe? – Side Event from the Climate Recon 2050 Project at COP24

12 December 2018
Katowice, Poland

Event:Digital Event

This webinar presented findings from two projects on strategies to reach ambitiously low-emission levels in European industry. It looked at technological solutions, but also at strategies such as the reduction of demand and the increase rates of recycling. A recording of the webinar as well as the presentations are available online.

Scenarios for Deep Decarbonisation of the EU Industry

26 November 2018
online

Presentation:Chairing

The Think 2030 conference has launched a new sustainability platform, which aims to inform a science-based agenda for European environmental policy beyond 2020 and propose solutions to Europe's most pressing sustainability issues. Ecologic Institute's Matthias Duwe co-authored a paper on long-term climate planning in the EU together with Lola Vallejo (IDDRI), which was discussed during a dedicated session. A summary of the paper is available.

Think 2030: Science-policy solutions for a more sustainable Europe

17 - 18 October 2018
R. Andreas Kraemer

Event:Digital Event

In the EU, the aim is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and to use energy more efficiently. This webinar presented a number of key topics connected to a role that district heating plays in achieving decarbonisation of economies and energy systems. A recording of the webinar as well as the presentations are available online.

District Heating in Decarbonising Economies

29 October 2018
online

Publication:Report

Strong national climate governance frameworks are crucial to establish and maintain political support for the low-carbon transition and facilitate the implementation of policies. The truly robust governance frameworks combine key elements such as legally binding targets reached with high level of political support, broad stakeholder participation and review mechanisms that allow for adjustments over time. Creation of dedicated institutions with clearly assigned responsibilities and powers is essential to ensure the robustness and effectiveness of the framework. The study, co-authored by Ecologic Institute's Matthias Duwe, is available for download.

Towards Paris-compatible Climate Governance Frameworks

An overview of findings from recent research into 2050 climate laws and strategies

Year 2018

Language: English
Authorship: Matthias Duwe

Ewa Iwaszuk
Funding: Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), Germany
Year: 2019
Dimension: 15 pp.
Project: Intra-EU Exchange to Raise Awareness and Build Capacity on Long-term Climate Strategies (Climate Recon 2050)
Project ID: 3201
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

Summary
EU level
National level
Context: Past, present and future of long-term climate plans in Europe
Historical background (2009–14: Pre-Paris)
Current situation (2015–20: Post-Paris)
Legal obligations on 2050 plans: What is in the Governance Regulation?
Provisions applying to both EU and national strategies
Provisions that only apply to the EU strategy
Provisions that apply to the national strategies
Provisions regarding the connection between the two strategy levels
State of play on 2050 Climate plans at the national and EU levels
National-level perspective: Diversity in 2050 LTS
Specific insights: Commonalities and differences
EU-level perspective: A net-zero vision
Summary and Conclusions
References
Keywords: Climate

Energy

EU

Governance

Long-term climate strategies, NECPs, National Energy and Climate Plans, EU, climate, European Union, strategy, 2050, long-term, decarbonisation, CO2, modelling, scenarios, Paris Agreement, Article 4.19, mitigation, greenhouse gas emissions, GHG, carbon budget, coal, renewable energy, solar energy, governance, planning, mainstreaming, climate and energy targets, Member States, policymakers, Energy Union, Article 14, transformation, ambition, transition, energy security, climate protection

Europe

Download: LTS in Europe: Experience from National and EU-wide 2050 Climate Planning [pdf, 1.1 MB, English]

Further Links

Project website: Climate Recon 2050: Dialogues on Pathways and Policy

PublicationReportTowards Paris-compatible Climate Governance Frameworks

Strong national climate governance frameworks are crucial to establish and maintain political support for the low-carbon transition and facilitate the implementation of policies. The truly robust governance frameworks combine key elements such as legally binding targets... Read more

Rüdinger, A., Voss-Stemping, J., Sartor, O., Duwe, M., Averchenkova, A. (2018). Towards Paris-compatible climate governance frameworks. An overview of findings from recent research into 2050 climate laws and strategies. Studies N°04/18, IDDRI, Paris, France, 20 p.

PublicationWebsiteClimate Recon 2050: Dialogues on Pathways and Policy

Climate Recon 2050 Website

The projects website provides an overview of the project objectives, structure and partners as well as events and news related to relevant issues of the project. Furthermore, project outputs such as deliverables, policy briefs and publications are regularly promoted on... Read more

Ecologic Institute (2018): Climate Recon 2050: Dialogues on Pathways and Policy. Intra-EU exchange on long-term climate strategies and decarbonisation scenarios. URL: https://climatedialogue.eu/

EventConferenceMomentum on Long-Term Climate Strategies: Where We Are in Europe? – Side Event from the Climate Recon 2050 Project at COP24

On Wednesday, 12 December 2018, Ecologic Institute, Energiaklub, and Negawatt hosted a side-event at the COP24 on behalf of the project ClimateRecon 2050 to present specific examples of long-term strategies in Europe. Long-term strategies play a major role in... Read more

Conference:Momentum on Long-Term Climate Strategies: Where We Are in Europe? – Side Event from the Climate Recon 2050 Project at COP24

Date: 12 December 2018
Location: Katowice, Poland

EventDigital EventDistrict Heating in Decarbonising Economies

In the EU and in Denmark, the aim is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and to use energy more efficiently. District heating and combined heat and power have significant potential with regard to achieving this aim. This webinar presented a number of key topics... Read more

Digital Event:District Heating in Decarbonising Economies

Date: 29 October 2018
Location: online

EventDigital EventScenarios for Deep Decarbonisation of the EU Industry

This webinar presented findings from two projects on strategies to reach ambitious low-emission levels in European industry. We looked at technological solutions, but also on strategies such as reduction of demand and increased rates of recycling. The webinar was... Read more

Digital Event:Scenarios for Deep Decarbonisation of the EU Industry

Date: 26 November 2018
Location: online

EventWorkshopDialogues on Long-Term Climate Strategies

The third set of dialogue workshops for government officials and related experts from the Climate Recon 2050 project were held in Copenhagen at the end of February 2019. The Climate Recon 2050 project aims to support policy-makers required to deliver 2050 climate... Read more

Workshop:Dialogues on Long-Term Climate Strategies

Date: 27 - 28 February 2019
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

EventConferencePlanning for 2050 – Conference

The conference "Planning for 2050", organised by Ecologic Institute, will take place on 23 May 2019 in Brussels. It takes stock of the experience with long-term climate strategies gained in Europe and presents lessons learnt as well as challenges encountered in... Read more

Conference:Planning for 2050 – Conference

Date: 23 May 2019
Location: Brussels, Belgium

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