A União Europeia e as mudanças climáticas: os principais desafios políticos, geográficos e socioeconômicos para a transição energética do Bloco

Abstract

The international climate change regime is a set of agreements, protocols and global measures that have been established to combat global warming and its consequences. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UFCCC) established a framework for negotiations and international cooperation on issues related to climate change, with the aim of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent interference dangerous in the climate system. Since then, several Conferences of the Parties (COPs) have been held, where countries discuss measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change, and mobilize funding for these efforts. Historically, the European Union (EU) has been responsible for a significant share of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. However, it is important to note that emissions vary over time and between countries within the EU. In the past, the EU and its member states have contributed considerably to global GHG emissions, mainly due to their industrialization, energy consumption, transport and agriculture sectors. Many European countries have a long history of carbon-intensive industrial activities such as steel production, cement and electricity generation from fossil fuels. However, in recent decades, the EU has taken steps to reduce its GHG emissions and become a global leader in mitigating climate change. Ambitious climate policies have been implemented, such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency. These measures have contributed to a significant reduction in EU emissions over time. It is important to emphasize that, although the EU has played a relevant role in historical GHG emissions. The bloc has implemented several policies and programs to reduce its emissions, including the adoption of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, biodiversity conservation measures and the promotion of electric vehicles and other clean transport technologies. The EU is also working to create a more robust and efficient carbon market, which would help encourage emissions reductions across all sectors of the economy. The energy transition is a fundamental process for the European Union, which seeks to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. However, this transition also presents significant political, economic, and geographic challenges. Thus, the present work aims to analyze the policies/measures adopted by the EU to combat climate change, discussing the main challenges presented in this regard