Energy played a key role in the EU’s origin, when the six founding Member States established the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, 65 years ago. Measures tackling climate change developed later. Energy and climate change are now closely interlinked, since energy production, mainly from the transformation and combustion of fossil fuels, and energy use – by e.g. industry, households and transport – account for 79 % of EU greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, effective action on energy production and its use is essential to tackle climate change. Energy and climate change raise many issues which are best dealt with by states working together. As a result, they are high on the EU’s agenda.
