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===The measures taken by the EU===
Because Energy, Health and Environment are shared competences and to ensure the good run of the objectives dictated by the European legislation and strategies, the EU has implemented different measures and regulations.
* '''The Energy Union and climate: ''' Implemented in 2015, the Energy Union and climate is the result of a long history of European energy policies and of proposals from the united energy sector. The objective of the Union is to ensure a secure and sustainable energy by a common and interconnected market and common policies and investments. This Energy Union is based on five main priorities: # “Energy security, solidarity and trust # A fully integrated European energy market # Energy efficiency # Climate change - Decarbonising the economy # Research, innovation and competitiveness.”
This Union is a new step in the involvement of the EU in the fight against climate change and air pollution, with the main aim to increase coherence and efficiency. It gives new powers to the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) by the ratification of the 2015 Paris Agreement and by establishing their targets for the Energy policy (Target 2020, Targets 2030 Target 2050).
* '''The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS): ''' The EU Emissions Trading System is a Cap and Trade system implemented at the European level. Based on the polluter pays principle, the main objective of this system is to reduce greenhouse gasses and air pollutant emissions by implementing a system of yearly emissions quotas allocated for each company (the cap). On a common market based on the law of supply and demand, these quotas can be exchanged between companies (trade system) according to their needs. To ensure a the successful achievement of the objectives to reduce the emissions, the system includes more and more countries and companies each year.
* '''The Clean air package 2013: ''' In line with the different regulations set up concerning the environment and air pollution, this package has been implemented to plan huge investments at regional, national and international levels with the aim to improve air quality.
The cost of this Clean air package has been estimated by the European Commission to an average of €2.2 billion a year between between 2014 and 2030, and a global estimated amount of investments of € 35.2 billion in the whole period.
Moreover, the benefits will also concern the exposure of the EU territory and citizens to air pollutants and their risks. Thus, the aim is to decrease the exposure to eutrophication from 62% of the EU area to 44% of the area, a decrease of 29% of the area exposed to the eutrophication. Concerning the exposure to acidification, a decrease of 79,36% of the EU area exposed to acidification - from 110.000 km² to 27.500 km² - has been estimated.
Thus the Clean air package’s aim is to have a common mass investment to ensure the best reduction of risks and costs.
