On 20 July 2016, the European Commission presented its Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) proposal, which sets binding annual greenhouse gas emissions targets for member states for the 2021-2030 period in sectors not covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), including transport, agriculture, building, waste, land use and forestry. Member states have agreed that these sectors would need to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels if the EU is to meet its overall commitment of cutting emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Taking the right measures will be key to successful climate action, as these non-ETS sectors account for around 60% of all EU emissions. At this Policy Dialogue, different stakeholders discussed the lessons learned from the previous effort sharing period of 2013-2020, the main elements of the new proposal, and how far it is likely to support the achievement of European and international climate targets.

Speakers included: Annika Hedberg, Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre, Artur Runge-Metzger, Director, Climate Strategy, Directorate General for Climate Action, European Commission, Adam Janczak, Deputy Director, EU Economic Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Poland, Petr Dolejsi, Director, Mobility & Sustainable Transport, European Automobile Manufacturers Association, Mads Helleberg Dorff Christiansen, Chief Policy Advisor, Energy, Environment & EU, Danish Agriculture & Food Council, Femke de Jong, EU Policy Director, Carbon Market Watch