Policy and legislation - European and international

There are a number of policies and legislative documents that exist at the European level and may be relevant to renewable energy developments in the UK. These include ‘Directives’ (particularly related to habitat management and conservation), ‘Conventions’ and ‘Schemes’. These EU policies may be implemented through statutory regulations in the UK. This section provides an overview of different EU legislation of potential relevance to renewable energy developments in the UK.

  • Government Documents
  • Other Documents
  • Other Resources
  • Organisations
  • Resource Classification
External PDF File
Biomass action plan (Europe)
Ref:
0381-GovC
Author:
Commission of the European Communities, January 2005
Type:
External PDF File
Link:
www.ec.europa.eu/energy/res/biomass_acti...
 
This European action plan sets out measures to increase the development of biomass energy from wood, wastes and agricultural crops by creating market-based incentives to its use and removing barriers to the development of the market. Illustrating the European direction for cutting dependence on fossil fuels, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and stimulating economic activity in rural areas.v show details
External Web Link
Council directive on the conservation of wild birds
Ref:
0292-GovC
Author:
EU, February 1979
Type:
External Web Link
Link:
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/e...
 
This report contains details of the directive and amending acts with a mission to provide long-term protection and conservation of all bird species naturally living in the wild within the European territory of the member states. (79/409/EEC)v show details
External Web Link
Council directive on the conservation of wild birds
Ref:
0091-GovC
Author:
EU, January 1979
Type:
External Web Link
Link:
www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1373
 
Adopted by the European Community in response to the Bern Convention; providing a framework for the conservation, management of, and human interactions with, wild birds in Europe. (2009/147/EC)v show details
External Web Link
Council directive: Habitats directive
Ref:
0095-GovC
Author:
EU, January 1992
Type:
External Web Link
Link:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexU...
 
Adopted by the European Community in response to the Bern Convention. (92/43/EEC)v show details
External Web Link
Energy performance of buildings directive
Ref:
0093-GovC
Author:
European Parliament and The Council of the European Union, January 2002
Type:
External Web Link
Link:
http://europa.eu/index_en.htm
 
This directive is intended to lead to substantial increases in investments in energy efficiency measures within buidlings. Facilitating requirements to measure energy use in buildings by increasing standards and introducing measurements and inspections. The directive is implemented in the UK through, among other measures, the use of revised Building Regulations (2006).v show details
External Web Link
European Union greenhouse gas emission trading scheme (EU ETS)
Ref:
0094-GovC
Author:
European Commission, July 2003
Type:
External Web Link
Link:
ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/emission...
 
The EU emission trading scheme is the largest multi-country, multi-sector greenhouse gas emission trading scheme worldwide. The scheme commenced on 1 January 2005. The first phase ran from 2005-2007 and the second phase will run from 2008-2012 to coincide with the first Kyoto Commitment Period. Further five-year periods are expected subsequently. The scheme works on a 'Cap and Trade' basis with member state governments setting an emission cap for all installations covered by the scheme.v show details
External Web Link
Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations framework convention on climate change
Ref:
0092-GovC
Author:
United Nations, January 1997
Type:
External Web Link
Link:
unfccc.int/essential_background/kyoto_pr...
 
This international agreement, which builds on the United Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCC), sets legally binding targets and timetables for cutting the greenhouse-gas emissions of industrialized countries. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCC on 11th December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan; ratified by the UK on 31 May 2002; and entered into force on 16 February 2005.v show details
External Web Link
Special protection areas (SPAs)
Ref:
0133-GovC
Author:
Joint Nature Conservation Committee, March 2009
Type:
External Web Link
Link:
www.jncc.gov.uk/page-162
 
Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are strictly protected sites classified in accordance with article 4 of the EC Birds Directive, which came into force in April 1979. These web pages detail the classification of SPAs and offer links to lists of SPAs across the UK. See also the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC).v show details
External Web Link
The convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats (the Bern Convention)
Ref:
0089-GovC
Author:
Council of the European Communities, January 1979
Type:
External Web Link
Link:
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/e...
 
The Bern Convention is a binding international legal instrument in the field of nature conservation, which covers the whole of the natural heritage of the European continent and extends to some States of Africa. Its aims are to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats and to promote European co-operation in that field. Adopted in 1979, it came into force in 1982.v show details
External PDF File
The energy performance of buildings directive: A summary of its objectives and contents
Ref:
0090-GovC
Author:
CIBSE, January 2003
Type:
External PDF File
Link:
www.diag.org.uk/media/18835/cibse_briefi...
 
This briefing paper from CIBSE provides an overview of the energy performance of buildings directive. The directive is intended to greatly affect the awareness of energy use in buildings, and also hoped will lead to substantial increases in investments in energy efficiency measures within these buildings.v show details
External Web Link
Copenhagen 2009
Ref:
0526-OthC
Author:
UN
Type:
External Web Link
Link:
www.denmark.dk/en/menu/Climate-Energy/CO...
 
This page contains a selection of some of the most popular content from Denmarks host country website for the UN Climate Change Conference 2009.v show details
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