Land-based Emissions

To be called the “great platform to engage in the climate debate” that “improves our impact at national level” and provides “support, information and inspiration” compliments our entire Network and will continue to drive our shared effort to live up to such high accolades at this time of growing climate urgency.

Centre and conservative parties of the current European Parliament have failed to treat climate change with the urgency it demands, according to a new ranking published today by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe. At the same time, national champions in these groups demonstrate that centre and conservative parties can play a

The report “Defenders, Delayers, Dinosaurs: Ranking of EU political groups and national parties on climate change” assesses the voting behaviour of current MEPs in relation to climate and energy issues.

Families from Europe and outside are taking the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to the European General Court for allowing high level of emissions until 2030 and failing to protect the citizens with the existing inadequate 2030 climate target.

Dear Minister,

Adopting the Paris Agreement in 2015 marked a critical turning point toward a zero-carbon future, uniting the world in a global effort to tackle climate change. During the next Environment Council meeting on 13 October you will have the opportunity to decide on the Council’s position on two of the three pillars of the EU’s climate policy; the Regulations on Effort Sharing (ESR) and Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF).

Dear Member of the European Parliament,

Today you will vote on the so-called “Climate Action Regulation implementing the Paris Agreement” (Effort Sharing Regulation, or ESR). This regulation covers about 60% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. If designed correctly, it can drive innovation in the sectors involved, and lead to great benefits for the society such as cleaner air, reduced energy poverty and more liveable cities.

A group of CAN Europe's partner NGOs wrote to the French Minister of Ecological and Solidary Transition, urging him to improve France's position on the Effort Sharing Regulation and LULUCF, and to align it with the Paris Agreement.

In order to meet our climate change goals we need to increase natural carbon sinks within the EU to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Yet the EU’s sink is actually projected to decline between now and 2030, by an estimated 100MT of CO2. To counter this the EU needs to improve its land use accounting rules within the LULUCF regulation. 

Dear Commissioner Arias Cañete,

The EU is in the process of deciding the accounting rules for land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) for the post-2020 period. The EU’s decision will have international significance.

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The proposed Regulation is unambitious and must be strengthened in several ways to ensure that the LULUCF sectors sufficiently contribute to achieving the European Union’s international commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The difference between the three different Councils can be confusing. Here a short clarification.

In July 2016, the European Commission published their proposal for a regulation for CO2 emissions form the land-use (LULUCF) sectors.It contains three different ways of accounting for emissions or removals. We explain what they are and why having such a mixed bag isn't good.

CAN Europe has done a first analyisis of the Commission's proposal on non-ETS emissions for 2021-2030. 

CAn Europe co-signed the following letter to President Junker on LULUCF and the starting Point in the non-ETS sectors.

Here you find a range of useful external LULUCF resources. For all LULUCF related CAN Europe publications, go here.

The briefing on Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) was developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on LULUCF and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry sector in the EU as a whole is a net sink, removing about 350 Mt of CO2 every year. However, this sink is projected to decrease. The legislative proposal for post-2020 is unambitious and includes loopholes

CAN Europe made a submission on the European Commission’s Consultation on how to treat land-based emissions in the 2030 target.

Today the EU’s environment ministers signed off the EU’s commitment towards the Paris agreement on climate change. According to Climate Action Network Europe and its over 120 members, the EU’s announcement is a missed opportunity to set a high benchmark for all the pledges to the global deal.

On Friday, 6th March, the EU’s environment ministers will discuss and most likely decide upon the EU's commitment towards the Paris agreement on climate change. On behalf of over 120 members, Climate Action Network Europe highlights the causes of concern regarding attempts to dilute the EU’s pledge.