The European Commission has updated the rules governing the Union Registry, strengthening how Member States’ climate-related transactions are recorded and monitored across the European Union
The changes show recent reforms to key climate legislation and are designed to ensure accurate, transparent, and reliable accounting as the EU works toward its 2030 climate goals.
The Union Registry is a digital platform used by Member States to track emissions-related units and transactions under EU climate law. By aligning its rules with updated legislation, the Commission hopes to create trust, consistency, and clarity in the implementation of the European Green Deal.
Fit for 55 reforms
The amendments update Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1122, which governs the functioning of the Union Registry. The revised rules bring the Registry into line with changes made in 2023 to the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) and the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) Regulation.
These legislative updates form part of the Fit for 55 package, the EU’s comprehensive plan to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030.
Under the new framework, the Union Registry will properly record transactions linked to annual emission allocations under the ESR and emissions and removals units under the LULUCF Regulation. This ensures that all climate-related accounting reflects the updated legal obligations agreed by Member States.
A tool for transparency and flexibility
The Union Registry plays an important role in enabling Member States to use the flexibilities built into EU climate legislation. These include the ability to transfer annual emission allocations or land-use units between countries, helping them manage differences in national circumstances while still meeting collective EU targets.
By recording every transaction in a single, secure, and transparent system, the Registry safeguards the integrity of the EU climate framework. It allows emissions data to be tracked consistently across countries and over time, reducing the risk of errors or double-counting and supporting effective enforcement of climate rules.
Supporting the effort to share regulation
The Effort Sharing Regulation sets binding national emission reduction targets for sectors not covered by the EU Emissions Trading System. These sectors include domestic transport, buildings, agriculture, small industry, and waste. Together, they account for a significant share of EU greenhouse gas emissions.
Through the ESR, Member States collectively aim to achieve a 40 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. The updated Union Registry rules ensure that annual emission allocations and related transactions are accurately recorded, supporting fair and transparent progress toward these targets.
Strengthening land-use climate accounting
The LULUCF Regulation focuses on emissions and removals associated with land use, including forests, croplands, and grasslands. Its goal is to increase net carbon removals across the EU by 2030, contributing to climate neutrality while promoting more sustainable land management.
By updating how LULUCF units are tracked in the Union Registry, the Commission is reinforcing governance and transparency in this complex sector. Accurate accounting is essential to ensure that reported removals are credible and that Member States meet their commitments.
The revised Union Registry rules will support the next major compliance check for the period 2021–2025, scheduled for 2027. This review will assess whether Member States have met their obligations under the ESR and LULUCF frameworks.
Overall, the updated Registry rules represent an important technical step that underpins the EU’s broader climate ambitions.
