Mechanism for monitoring greenhouse gases
Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 — mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and other information relevant to climate change
This regulation, the Monitoring Mechanism Regulation (MMR), significantly expands and strengthens the previous mechanism for monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU.
It aims to enhance the monitoring and reporting procedures and rules for GHG emissions.
Incorporating new reporting and monitoring requirements arising from the EU’s 2020 Climate and Energy Package and from recent decisions adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), it replaces the old monitoring mechanism established under Decision 280/2004/EC.
Key Points
The regulation:
enhances the monitoring, reporting and review procedures and rules, which allows for the implementation of domestic and international commitments;
establishes an EU-wide greenhouse gas inventory* system that seeks to strengthen transparency and completeness between the GHG inventories of EU countries;
incorporates EU countries’ information on their planning and strategies for adaptation to climate change, covering aspects such as flooding, draughts and extreme temperatures;
strengthens the reporting by the EU and EU countries on financial and technological support provided to developing countries; and
ensures the timeliness, transparency, accuracy, comparability and completeness of data reported by the EU and EU countries.
Application and Background
It has applied since 8 July 2013.
Following various international climate negotiations and new UNFCCC requirements, as well as taking into account new legislative developments at EU level, Decision 280/2004/EC, which contained less stringent measures to monitor EU GHG emissions and implement the Kyoto Protocol, needed to be significantly improved.
In 2013, the EU adopted its Monitoring Mechanism Regulation repealing Decision 280/2004/EC. This ensured that it has in place a robust reporting mechanism on EU projections, policies and measures in regard to greenhouse gas emissions.
Every year, the European Commission publishes its climate action progress report. It also reports regularly to the UN.
For more information, see:
‘Emissions monitoring and reporting’ on the European Commission’s website
‘Climate change’ on the European Environment Agency’s website.
KEY TERMS
Greenhouse gas inventory: this is an emissions inventory that keeps track of 7 different greenhouse gases coming from all sectors, including
energy,
industrial processes,
waste,
agriculture, and
land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF).
The EU’s greenhouse gas inventory is prepared each year by the European Commission, assisted by the European Environment Agency.
MAIN DOCUMENT
Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and for reporting other information at national and Union level relevant to climate change and repealing Decision No 280/2004/EC (OJ L 165, 18.6.2013, pp. 13-40)
Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 666/2014 of 12 March 2014 establishing substantive requirements for a Union inventory system and taking into account changes in the global warming potentials and internationally agreed inventory guidelines pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 179, 19.6.2014, pp. 26-30)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 749/2014 of 30 June 2014 on structure, format, submission processes and review of information reported by Member States pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Official Journal L 203, 11.7.2014, pp. 23-90)
Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: Progress towards achieving the Kyoto and EU 2020 objectives (required under Article 21 of Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and for reporting other information at national and Union level relevant to climate change and repealing Decision No 280/2004/EC) (COM(2014) 689 final of 28 October 2014)