Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Hungary in Light of the Dynamically Changing Requirements of the European Union

What the paper says

The fight against climate change requires Hungary to develop a common set of principles-based targets and to operate a coherent framework for action, monitoring and feedback in order to meet national and international targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is highlighted by the analysis of the State Audit Office of Hungary (SAO) concluded in 2024, which audited the measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the strategic framework of Hungary in the light of the dynamically changing requirements of the European Union (EU). Due to greenhouse gas emissions, the effects of global warming affect almost all aspects of life, the natural environment and biodiversity, all sectors of the economy, human habitats and the development of society. The estimated value of economic damages associated with climate change, including projections ranging from the costs of recovery caused by natural disasters to unrealised economic returns, are increasing. Action is of key importance for Europe, as the continent’s average temperature is rising at around twice the global average. A milestone in the fight against climate change was the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015, which set the target of reducing the average temperature rise. The European Union’s Climate Law aims to ensure that climate neutrality, i.e. a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and removals, is achieved by 2050. The EU Climate Law sets intermediate, regularly revised targets to reach the 2050 target, although adapting to and meeting the changing standards of the EU represent a challenge for all Member States. As a Member State of the Union, Hungary has developed its corresponding strategic framework in line with the standards of the EU.