Beschreibung:
Climate change is happening now. Floods, droughts, heatwaves, and other climate‑related hazards are becoming more intense, longer and more frequent (EEA, 2023a). Over the last decade, European surface temperatures were more than 2°C warmer than pre-industrial levels, while the summer of 2023 was globally the hottest summer on record and the fifth hottest for Europe. Every tonne of greenhouse gas saved contributes to mitigating the consequences of climate change, and the EU is committed to stepping up the efforts and taking decisive action on the path towards climate neutrality. In recent decades, the EU has reduced its net greenhouse gas emissions, by almost one third while simultaneously fostering economic prosperity. Preliminary figures for 2022 indicate that total net greenhouse gas emissions, including international aviation GHG emissions (1), had decreased by 31% compared to 1990. Particularly within the sectors of energy supply and energy-intensive industries, both subject to the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) since 2005, there has been a pronounced reduction in GHG emissions. However, the decrease in emissions covered by Member State targets within the effort sharing legislation, particularly in areas such as agriculture, transport, and buildings, has been slower. In parallel, according to the EEA's early estimates, the EU has successfully expanded the share of renewable energy consumption, with renewable sources accounting for an estimated 22.5% share by 2022. Furthermore, the EU has managed to reduce primary energy consumption by 16% since 2005 - attributed to more efficient energy conversions and an 8% reduction in final energy consumption, according to the EEA's early estimates for 2022.