TVLInk Europe, 50 years of protecting Europe's environment

Europe leads the fight against climate change

One of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet, climate change has become a catalyst for a series of tough new policies and measures instigated by the European Union. Though it contributes only 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Europe is, nevertheless, leading the fight against climate change by setting an example to the rest of the world.

Since global warming first moved onto the political agenda in the late 1980s, the EU has been instrumental in the development of both the United Nations convention to combat climate change and of its Kyoto Protocol. To ensure it meets its target, the European Union has developed a major programme of measures to cut emissions, at the heart of which lies the innovative EU Emissions Trading Scheme, the world’s biggest international trading system.

With Kyoto’s targets set to expire in 2012, Europe is already looking further into the future, with 2020 its next key target. Pressing to start early negotiations on a raft of new global measures, the EU has taken a crucial first step by making a firm, independent commitment to reduce its own green house gas emissions by 20% over this period, regardless of what other countries do.