To benefit from the support of the Recovery and Resilience Facility set up by the EU in the aftermath of the COVID-19-induced economic crisis, Member States submit their recovery and resilience plans to the European Commission. Each plan sets out the reforms and investments to be implemented by end-2026 and Member States can receive financing up to a previously agreed allocation. Each plan should effectively address challenges identified in the European Semester, particularly the country-specific recommendations of 2019 and 2020 adopted by the Council. It should also advance the green and digital transitions and make Member States’ economies and societies more resilient. The Commission validates the plan after which it effectively enters in force and EU subsidies can start flowing towards the member state. Hungary's RRP EC page does not show whether a council implementing decision was passed.

On June 4th, 2020, the parliament&nbsp; passed a resolution on "non-deferred tasks arising from climate change". This resolution approves the governmental climate and nature protection plan and related energy policy strategies. This plan and related documents aim at mitigating and adapting to climate change, upgrade the country's energy systems, enhance energy efficiency and decarbonise electricity generation. The document sets a 92 million euro fund to be granted to small and medium companies switching to energy production from renewable sources. It sets goals of solar capacity deployment, low carbon electricity production, number of electric buses, and encourages the uptake of electric vehicles.

The government approved its hydrogen strategy in May 2020.

The National Energy and Climate (ENCP) Plan is a ten-year integrated document <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/energy/topics/energy-strategy/national-energy-climate-plans_en">mandated by the European Union</a> to each of its member states in order for the EU to meet its overall greenhouse gases emissions targets.&nbsp; The Energy and Climate Plan addresses all five dimensions of the EU Energy Union: decarbonisation, energy efficiency, energy security, internal energy markets and research, innovation and competitiveness. &nbsp; The main objectives of the plan are : 1) to strengthen energy sovereignty and energy security, 2) to maintain the results of reduced overhead costs, 3) to achieve the decarbonisation of energy production with the combined use of nuclear energy and renewable energy.&nbsp; The plan states that it is in the interest of Hungary to reduce its demand for energy imports and to ensure its connection to the regional electricity grids and natural gas networks.&nbsp; The reduction of the use of fossil fuels may be achieved through the use of heating/cooling solutions based on renewable resources and the reduction of energy consumption in public institutions, industry and transport. For energy efficiency, the plan establishes green solutions as the electromobility and the household-scale energy production for private purposes and the spread of smart meters.

This document notably seeks to increase energy savings in buildings, set energy efficiency standards for new constructions, and boost research and innovation.

The Hungarian parliament passed a law on climate protection committing to protect the natural heritage and “the natural conditions of the way of life that we Hungarians have created together in this country”. The document stresses that the scope of the policy set out in the law must apply to the whole Carpathian Basin, be in line with international and EU commitments, allow for new nuclear energy and proportionate measures. The law is based on a <a href="https://www.parlament.hu/irom41/07021/07021-0010.pdf ">bill</a> that aimed at declaring national emergency over the climate crisis. Instead, it sets targets of GHG emission reductions and a climate neutrality goal for 2050.&nbsp; During the same parliamentary session, a provision allowing municipalities to regulate emergency incineration by decree was repealed. The provision also determines that&nbsp; the National Climate Protection Authority has access to the National Environmental Information System for its tasks related to the EU ETS.

This act requires the government to set an energy efficiency target for 2020, and to create a National Energy Efficiency Action Plan and a National Building Energy Strategy. It also requires the Hungarian Energy and Utility Regulatory Authority to collect data on energy efficiency, record and publish energy efficiency savings, maintain a list of energy auditors, maintain an energy efficiency website, carry out assessments of energy supply sources, classify new energy production facilities based on their efficiency, approve a cost-benefit analysis, and keep a record of costs and expenditures, and outlines minimum energy efficiency standards for government buildings: at least 3% of the total area is subject to energy efficiency renovations annually.

This act requires government to establish a risk management system specifically for the agricultural sector. It also establishes a compensation scheme for loss and damage caused by disasters that affect agricultural production, creates an insurance scheme for agricultural producers, funded partially by government subsidies and partially by international aid.

This act outlines the general framework for disaster risk management in Hungary. It requires the government to establish a national disaster management system, create regulations for disaster risk management, and appropriate funds to disaster risk management activities. It also requires all subnational and local governments to establish disaster management committees to oversee local policy development and implementation.

The purpose of this Act is to reduce the impact of climate change caused by transport-related emission activities. The Act stipulates that at least 10% of energy for transport must be produced from renewable sources by 2020. It sets the specific sustainability criteria and certification process necessary to fulfil the prescribed quota of biofuel. A 2013 amendment relaxed reporting obligations on fuel traders from monthly to annual. This Act is often referred to as the ?Biofuels Act? as it widely addresses the promotion of biofuel use to reduce GHGs. This Act transposes Directive 2003/30/EC on the promotion of the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels for transport and Directive 2009/38/EC into Hungarian law.

Hungary. 2022 National Inventory Report (NIR), National Inventory Report from Hungary in 2022

National Clean Development Strategy 2020-2050, Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategy from Hungary in 2021

Hungary. 2021 National Inventory Report (NIR), National Inventory Report from Hungary in 2021

Hungary. Biennial report (BR). BR 4, Biennial Report from Hungary in 2019

Hungary. Biennial Reports (BR). BR 3. National Communication (NC). NC 7., National Communication,Biennial Report from Hungary in 2018

Climate and nature protection plan; energy policy strategy

Plan approved

Budget 36 billion HUF over 10 years (2020-2030) for Green Bus Porgramme

Only electric buses will be allowed from 2022 in municipalities with a population of over 25,000.

25% households have smart meter installed by 2030

At least 1 million smart meters will be installed in electricity grids by 2030

90% carbon neutral domestic electricity generation by 2030.

Increase solar capacity by 6000 MW by 2030

Increase solar capacity by 6-fold by 2030 (from 2020)

3000 MW by 2022 and at least 6000 MW by 2030 of solar energy generation capacity,

27% increase of country's forest cover by 2030

150 thousand hectares protected natural area by 2021

160 pieces per person per year by 2010, 80 pieces per person per year by 2016, 0 by 2021

50% bus fleet will be environmentally friendly in local areas of major cities by 2030

90 % of electricity supply to be zero carbon by 2030

Increase the capacity of solar plants by six

Climate and nature protection plan; energy policy strategy

Main documents

Targets (17)

Timeline

Note

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