Developing 2050 Decarbonization Strategies in the EU

Insights on Good Practice from National Experiences

Publication: Report
Citation: Sartor, O., Donat, L., Duwe, M., Umpfenbach, K. (2017). Developing 2050 decarbonization strategies in the EU: Insights on good practice from national experiences, Study n°03/2017, IDDRI, Paris, France, 22 p.

National long-term (2050) climate strategies have received increased attention in European policy debates in the past two years. The Paris Agreement also invites countries to develop such strategies. This study (a collaborative effort between IDDRI and Ecologic Institute) looks at five existing 2050 strategy processes in the EU and assesses what lessons they hold and how they fit within the emerging 2030 governance framework. The study is available for download.d.

Based on the analysis of long-term strategic strategy development exercises in the UK, France, Germany, Poland and Czech Republic this study explores what role 2050 strategies play in directing short-term decision-making on policy. The study also addresses the questions of what gaps still exist in national and EU frameworks for long-term strategy development and what makes for meaningful and effective long-term strategy development, in terms of technical details of the strategy development process, institutional arrangements and stakeholder engagement.

The results of the analysis suggest that, when done effectively, long-term climate policy strategy development and the underlying processes can improve climate governance in several ways. They can help to identify short-term policy actions and make climate policy making in general more robust, coherent, and ambitious. They can also help to build understanding and consensus among stakeholders about the national strategy and specific policy approaches.

The inclusion of long-term strategies in the Paris Agreement and in the proposal of the European Commission for a new regulation on the "Governance of the Energy Union" make this analysis very topical. Ecologic Institute has assessed the proposed Governance regulation in detail in a separate report, including the respective section on long-term plans. The paper was developed alongside a related piece of research (also undertaken collaboratively between Ecologic Institute and IDDRI), evaluating the national experience with the existing planning and reporting requirements on energy and climate policy in the EU.

Integrating National Reality into the 2030 Governance System

An assessment of experience with climate and energy planning and reporting in select EU Member States

Year 2016

Publication:Report

Many open questions remain for the future governance system of the EU's 2030 climate and energy targets. This report by Ecologic Institute analyzes the possible lessons that can be drawn from the experience with the European Semester and helps provide answers on key procedural issues in the implementation/progress monitoring phase. The study is available for download.

Lessons from the European Semester for Effective 2030 Governance for Energy and Climate

Year 2016

Publication:Document

The Paris Agreement requires Parties to scale up their commitments every five years, i.e., with each consecutive "nationally determined contribution" (NDC). The recent proposal of the EU Commission for an Effort Sharing Regulation is essential for the EU to meet this obligation. The proposal, however, does not support adequately continuous scaling up of the EU greenhouse gas reduction targets. A new paper from Ecologic Institute discusses ways in which the Effort Sharing Regulation could support the scaling up of EU climate targets. The paper is available for download.

EU Effort Sharing after 2020

Review and Ratcheting Up EU Climate Targets

Year 2016

Publication:Document

As the EU considers early ratification of the Paris Agreement, this paper explains the related key legal questions that arise should the EU push to ratify without its internal burden sharing in place and without all Member States ratifying simultaneously. The paper is available for download.

Early Ratification of the Paris Agreement by the EU

Legal implications

Year 2016

Publication:Report

A new study by the Ecologic Institute shows how to ensure achievement of the 2030 EU target for renewable energy. The study is available for download.

Compliance with EU 2030 Renewable Energy Targets: How to Fill a Gap

Year 2016

Project

As part of ECF’s Governance Cluster, Ecologic Institute analyses adequate planning and reporting approaches for the 2030 energy and climate framework and on options to assess national contributions, address the gap issue and ensure compliance. Ecologic Institute also provides ongoing legal advice in the context of the Effort Sharing Decision revision and strategic guidance within the ECF Governance Cluster.

Analysis and Legal Advice for 2030 Climate and Energy Governance

Jan - Dec 2016

Language: English
Authorship: Matthias Duwe

Lena Donat, LLM

Katharina Umpfenbach

Oliver Sartor (IDDRI)
Funding: The French National Research Agency (ANR), France
Year: 2017
Dimension: 20 pp.
Project: Analysis and Legal Advice for 2030 Climate and Energy Governance
Project ID: 2124
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
1. METHODOLOGY
2. FINDINGS
2.1. The role of long-term (2050) strategies in national climate and energy governance
2.2. Content of 2050 strategies
2.3. Interaction with stakeholders
2.4. 2050 strategy development tools, institutions and “capacity”
2.5. Interaction with EU institutions
3. CONCLUSIONS
Keywords: Climate

Energy

climate governance, planning, 2050 climate and energy targets, EU, European Member States

Europe

Further Links

PublicationConference PaperThe Paris Agreement: Analysis, Assessment and Outlook

Ecologic Institute's new research paper provides a comprehensive overview and assessment of the Paris Agreement, including the agreed next steps, an outlook on implementation and key political messages. It is now available for download. Key messages are: The... Read more

Bodle, Ralph, Lena Donat and Matthias Duwe (2016). The Paris Agreement: Analysis, Assessment and Outlook. German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) Research Paper. Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt.

PublicationReportGovernance of the Energy Union

This paper analyzes the proposal of the European Commission for a new regulation on the "Governance of the Energy Union". The analysis is framed around two questions: Is the proposed system adequate for supporting the implementation of the 2030 targets? Will it help... Read more

Duwe, Matthias; Meyer-Ohlendorf, Nils; Umpfenbach, Katharina (2017) Governance of the Energy Union - Assessment of the Commission Proposal for a Governance Regulation, Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

PublicationReportIntegrating National Reality into the 2030 Governance System

Duwe, Matthias; Donat, Lena; Sartor, Oliver; Umpfenbach, Katharina (2016): Integrating national reality into the 2030 governance system. Ecologic Institute: Berlin, Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI): Paris.