Climate Change & Energy

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Our Work

Our work on mitigation mainly focuses on the energy, transport and land use sectors. Determining the effectiveness of climate change mitigation policies requires the ability to think across sectors – climate change does not respect geographical or policy borders. IEEP’s multidisciplinary nature and range of policy expertise ensures our analysis and recommendations are realistic, sustainable and do not conflict with other environmental objectives. Our work in this field includes the following areas:

Reducing energy use
According to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), approximately 80% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to the production and consumption of energy. The decarbonisation of the both the global and EU economies can only be reached with the reduction of energy use and the extensive deployment of renewable energy sources.
Energy use can be reduced through:

Increased energy efficiency, of buildings, appliance and resource use; and
Demand management, including better consumer information and awareness.

Implementation of mitigation legislation in EU Member States
IEEP undertook a review, commissioned by the European Climate Foundation, of the prospects for implementation of the 2009 EU climate and energy or CARE package in the 27 EU Member States. The study looked at the likely timing and form of transposition, as well as the likely effectiveness of the policies and the ability of Member States to reach the goals outlined in the package, such as non-ETS (EU Emissions Trading System) measures and progress on renewable energy.

The EU Emissions Trading System
The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is a cornerstone of EU climate change mitigation policy. We have reviewed its implementation in Member States and identified best practice. IEEP co-authored a report Business Action on Climate Change - Where Next after Emissions Trading? evaluating the policies to help business take action on climate change, specifying recommendations for simplifying and strengthening the policy framework. We have analysed the issues arising in linking the EU ETS to other emissions trading schemes. For VROM (the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment) we addressed the key issues in the review of the EU ETS monitoring and reporting guidelines in preparation for the Commission review of the Directive in 2006.

Carbon capture and storage
‘Catching’ the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced by power plants and storing them deep underground has the potential to reduce the quantity of CO2 emitted in the production of energy-using fossil fuels. But carbon capture and storage (CCS) is still a very new technology, and its true effectiveness and safety are not yet proven. IEEP has a portfolio of past work examining the non-technical barriers to CCS development, and we are involved with work on the public acceptance of CCS. This includes evaluation of the strategies used to communicate the advantages and risks of CCS to stakeholders and the wider public, and effective ways to involve them in local decision-making.

More about our work in this area...

Latest in Mitigation

Benefit Assessment Manual for Policy Makers: Assessment of Social and Economic Benefits of Enhanced Environmental Protection in the ENPI countries

This benefit Assessment Manual, originally for internal use, has been turned into a Benefit Assessment Manual for policy makers and experts for wider dissemination and provides an understanding of the methodologies applied for the country benefit assessments.
Analysis for European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Countries and the Russian Federation on social and economic benefits of enhanced environmental protection – Egypt Country Report

There are considerable benefits from taking immediate action to address the environmental problems facing Egypt, including in the area of air pollution, water quality and infrastructures and waste management, and safeguarding its natural heritage.
Regional Synthesis Report: ENPI South - Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, occupied Palestinian territory, Syria and Tunisia

Investing in improving environmental standards in the ENPI South countries would offer huge benefits in terms of cost savings, improved security (food, water, energy and climate), and improved quality of life.
Regional Synthesis Report: ENPI East – Synthesis report on: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russian Federation and Ukraine

Investing in improving environmental standards in the ENPI East countries would offer huge benefits in terms of cost savings, improved security (food, water, energy and climate), and improved quality of life.
Walking the talk - practical options for making the 2014-2020 EU MFF deliver on climate change

This report analyses the opportunities and weaknesses of Commission proposals on the future Cohesion Policy and the Connecting Europe Facility to ensure the effective mainstreaming of climate change concerns.
Unfolding the green ‘elements’ of the Commission’s Common Strategic Framework 2014-2020

This policy brief analyses the Commission’s staff working document on the Common Strategic Framework for the 2014-2020 EU cohesion, rural development and fisheries funds. It discusses both the opportunities and weaknesses to advance the mainstreaming of climate change and the environment into the funds.
Green Infrastructure Implementation and Efficiency

This IEEP-led study for the European Commission (DG ENV) improves the knowledge base on green infrastructure policy initiatives in Europe and assesses their implementation and efficiency. It also formulates policy recommendations for integrating green infrastructure into the EU policy framework.
Criteria for maximising the European added value of EU budget: the case of climate change

This report revisits approaches to defining European added value as a key concept to help the identification of spending priorities under the 2014-2020 EU budget. It puts forward a set of operational criteria for European added value to aid the design of future EU funding instruments, implementation programmes and project selection processes in relation to EU’s ambitions to tackle climate change.
Practical options for climate change mainstreaming in the 2014-2020 EU budget

On 1 February 2012, IEEP organised a policy dialogue workshop on ‘Practical options for climate change mainstreaming in the 2014-2020 EU budget’.
EU Budget Reform: Pathways to greening the future EU Cohesion Policy

IEEP in cooperation with the Institute for European Studies at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, kindly invites you to attend the upcoming environmental policy forum on the 6th of February dedicated to the reform of the 2014-2020 EU Cohesion Policy.
Practical options for climate change mainstreaming in the EU budget

IEEP is carrying out a project which aim is to explore options and tools for the mainstreaming of climate change in the 2014-2020 EU Cohesion Policy and Connecting Europe Facility. This will be the topic of a policy dialogue workshop organised by IEEP on 1 February 2012.
Responsible Bioelectricity – Renewables Obligation Consultation Response

The Renewables Obligation (RO) is the UK’s keynote policy for the support of renewable electricity; but currently it fails to reflect the diversity of bioenergy feedstocks. IEEP is calling on the UK government to amend the RO’s bands to allow elevated support – an ‘environmental bonus’ – for the most environmentally responsible bioenergy solutions.
2014-2020 EU Multi-annual Financial Framework: Opportunities and Challenges for Climate Change and the Environment

This presentation analyses the Commission proposals on the 2014-2020 Multi-annual Financial Framework unveiled on 29 June 2011. More specifically, it identifies opportunities and challenges for the financing of climate change and the environment in the future EU budget.
Achieving more climate ambition in the EU: distribution options.

New report by IEEP and Öko Institut explores how the additional effort of moving to a 30 % EU-wide greenhouse gas emission reduction target could be distributed among Member States, and the resources that could be mobilised to support such a move.
Promoting Low Carbon Innovations in the EU

"Innovations for a Low Carbon Economy – an overview and assessment of the EU policy landscape" provides an overview and assessment of EU policies which relate to low carbon innovations.
Climate and the Budget: EU Member States and stakeholders discuss IEEP study at workshop

More than 70 participants from European governments, the European Commission and other stakeholders gathered in Brussels on 28-29 March 2011 to discuss how the post-2013 EU budget should deal with investment needs in climate change and managing natural resources during a two-day workshop co-organised by IEEP together with the Dutch and Belgian governments.
Financial Support to Developing Countries for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Is the European Union Meeting Its Earlier Commitments?

This study looks into how the EU has fulfilled a crucial commitment within the so-called Bonn Declaration of 2001, a collective agreement of the then EU-15 and five other OECD donor countries to provide ...
Action Taken to Address Climate and Energy Priorities in the EU Member States, and Prospects for Implementation of the Climate Action and Renewable Energy Package

This paper provides an early overview of the prospects for implementation of the EU climate action and renewable energy (CARE) package across the EU at Member State level, as of spring 2009. It is based ...
Workshop: Assessing the Commission’s proposal on Carbon Capture and Storage

The Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a technology that some claim can provide a technical fix to buy the world time in its fight against climate change, but that others, e.g. Greenpeace, assert is a ...
Burden Sharing: Impact of Climate Change mitigation policies on growth and jobs

The impact of climate change mitigation measures on growth and jobs has to date been little investigated, and its implications on different economic sectors are still subject to debate. There is a need ...

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Highlights

Promoting Low Carbon Innovations in the EU

"Innovations for a Low Carbon Economy – an overview and assessment of the EU policy landscape" provides an overview and assessment of EU policies which relate to low carbon innovations.