Hungary

Law on climate protection

Legislative

Mitigation Framework

Passed in 2020

The Hungarian parliament passed a law on climate protection committing to protect the natural heritage and “the natural conditions of the way of life that we Hungarians have created together in this country”. The document stresses that the scope of the policy set out in the law must apply to the whole Carpathian Basin, be in line with international and EU commitments, allow for new nuclear energy and proportionate measures.

The law is based on a bill that aimed at declaring national emergency over the climate crisis. Instead, it sets targets of GHG emission reductions and a climate neutrality goal for 2050.

During the same parliamentary session, a provision allowing municipalities to regulate emergency incineration by decree was repealed. The provision also determines that the National Climate Protection Authority has access to the National Environmental Information System for its tasks related to the EU ETS.

Documents

Parliament press release (English)

Climate targets in this law

4 targets

90% carbon free electricity production by 2030.

Energy | Target year: 2030
Only e-buses will be newly deployed from 2022

Transport | Target year: 2022
The share of renewable energy sources in the country's gross final energy consumption will be at least 21 percent by 2030

Energy | Fixed level target | Target year: 2030
Net zero - Hungary will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. Hungary will achieve complete climate neutrality by 2050.

Economy-wide | Fixed level target | Target year: 2050 | Base year: 1990