Regulation 2017/2392 - Amendment of Directive 2003/87/EC to continue current limitations of scope for aviation activities and to prepare to implement a global market-based measure from 2021 - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 350/7

The 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took place in Paris from 30 November to 12 December 2015. At that Conference, an international agreement (‘the Paris Agreement’) was adopted to strengthen the global response to climate change. The Paris Agreement, inter alia, sets out a long-term goal in line with the objective to keep the global temperature increase well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to keep it to 1,5 °C above pre-industrial levels. The Paris Agreement was approved on behalf of the Union by Council Decision (EU) 2016/1841 (3). The Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016. In order to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement, all sectors will need to contribute and the Parties will prepare, communicate and maintain successive Nationally Determined Contributions (‘NDCs’). Action should therefore also be taken through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (‘ICAO’) to reduce emissions from international aviation.

Environmental protection is one of the most important challenges facing the Union. The environmental objectives of the Union as referred to in Article 191 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, are preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment; protecting human health; prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources; and promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems, and in particular combating climate change.

A binding target of at least a 40 % domestic reduction in economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 was set by the European Council in its conclusions of 23-24 October 2014. The Council on 6 March 2015 formally approved this contribution by the Union and its Member States as their intended NDC under the Paris Agreement. In its conclusions of October 2014, the European Council stated that the target is to be delivered collectively by the Union in the most cost-effective manner possible, with the reductions in the European Union Emissions Trading System (‘EU ETS’) and non-ETS sectors amounting to 43 % and 30 % respectively by 2030 compared to 2005. All sectors of the economy should contribute to achieving those emission reductions. The Commission should facilitate exchanges among Member States on best practice and lessons learned in the sector of low-emission mobility.

A well-functioning, reformed EU ETS with an enhanced instrument to stabilise the market will be the main European instrument to achieve the 40 % reduction target referred to in the European Council conclusions of October 2014, with a linear factor and free allocation beyond 2020. Those provisions should be consistent with the Union's climate objectives and its commitments under the Paris Agreement. The auction share should be expressed as a percentage figure in Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (4), to...