The National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) is a ten-year integrated document mandated by the European Union to each of its member states in order for the EU to meet its overall greenhouse gases emissions targets. Following feedback from an EU-wide assessment of draft NECP submissions, EU members are required to submit updated final NECPs for the period 2021-2030. 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.
The plan establishes the following key objectives : 1) to reduce GHG emissions in transport, agriculture, general consumption, waste management, indutry, energy sectors, to reduce the use of fossil energy sources (phasing out consumption of coal as well as support for the implementation of pilot projects for the production of synthetic methane and hydrogen), to increase the share of renewables in energy end-use; 2) to improve energy and material efficiency in all sectors; 3) to provide additional financial, human and technical resources to expedite the integrated development of the electricity distribution network to reinforce resistance to disruption and boost connectivity; 4) to invest in human resources and new knowledge, to support businesses for a competitive transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy, and to promote new RD programmes. Key quantified targets for 2030 include a 35-45% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2005 (the exact value depends on an unfinalised timeline of nuclear power decommissioning), and a renewable share of energy production of at least 55%. Coal will be fully phased out by 2033.
