The Commission will ensure that these strategic plans are assessed against robust climate and environmental criteria. Trade policy can support the EU’s ecological transition. to deliver on climate-related cohesion policy objectives in their territories and regions. Since it will bring substantial change, active public participation and confidence in the transition is paramount if policies are to work and be accepted. This will feed into the process of increasing climate ambition for 2030, for which the Commission will review and propose to revise, where necessary, the relevant energy leg. The biodiversity strategy will identify specific measures to meet these objectives. As the world’s largest single market, the EU can set standards that apply across global value chains. As it currently stands, it is clear that the, . However, the EU is not meeting some of its most important environmental objectives for 2020, such as the Aichi targets under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The sector can contribute by, improving the use of aquatic and marine resources, and, for example, by promoting the production and use of new s. ources of protein that can relieve pressure on agricultural land. At the same time, managing the transition will lead to significant structural changes in business models, skill requirements and relative prices. To do this, the Commission will bring together European scientific and industrial excellence to develop a very high precision digital model of the Earth. 2.2.Mainstreaming sustainability in all EU policies, 2.2.1.Pursuing green finance and investment and ensuring a just transition. To ensure that the EU plays a key role, the Commission will present a. be followed up by specific action in 2021. It will propose legislation in 2020 to ensure a safe, circular and sustainable battery value chain for all batteries, including to supply the growing market of electric vehicles. To be ready in 2050, decisions and actions need to be taken in the next five years. This vision should form the basis for the long-term strategy that the EU will submit to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in early 2020. European farmers and fishermen are key to managing the transition. Evaluations also systematically assess coherence between current legislation and new priorities. To address the twin challenge of energy efficiency and affordability, the EU and the Member States should engage in a ‘renovation wave’ of public and private buildings. The EU will aim to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, a goal that will be enshrined in a ‘climate law’ to be presented in March 2020. The Commission will explore measures to ensure that digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G, cloud and edge computing and the internet of things can accelerate and maximise the impact of policies to deal with climate change and protect the environment. Citizens are and should remain a driving force of the transition. The Commission will support work to unlock the full benefits of the digital transformation to support the ecological transition. The Commission will launch a European Climate Pact by March 2020 to focus on three ways to engage with the public on climate action. Only 12% of the materials it uses come from recycling Energy-intensive industries, such as steel, chemicals and cement, are indispensable to Europe’s economy, as they supply several key value chains. The Commission will also consider measures to improve the energy efficiency and circular economy performance of the sector itself, from broadband networks to data centres and ICT devices. The Commission will help develop smart systems for traffic management and ‘Mobility as a Service’ solutions, through its funding instruments, such as the Connected Europe Facility. . The Commission will notably propose to revise air quality standards to align them more closely with the World Health Organization recommendations. Member States should also reinforce cross-border cooperation to protect and restore more effectively the areas covered by the Natura 2000 network. The environmental ambition of the Green Deal will not be achieved by Europe acting alone. In parallel, the EU will step up bilateral engagement with partner countries and, where necessary, establish innovative forms of engagement. 2.Transforming the EU’s economy for a sustainable future, 2.1.Designing a set of deeply transformative policies. The Commission will rigorously enforce the legislation related to the energy performance of buildings. 4 The Farm to Fork Strategy will strengthen their efforts to tackle climate change, protect the environment and preserve biodiversity. Similarly, air quality should be improved near airports by tackling the emissions of pollutants by aeroplanes and airport operations. Green Deal Krichbaum agrees that the EU faces big challenges that require a generous budget. The circular economy action plan will also include measures to encourage businesses to offer, and to allow consumers to choose, reusable, durable and repairable products. This will enshrine the 2050 climate neutrality objective in legislation. The Commission will also launch work on the possibility of including emissio. It will require massive public investment and increased efforts to direct private capital towards climate and environmental action, while avoiding lock-in into unsustainable practices. Transport should become drastically less polluting, especially in cities. EU’s state aid guidelines will be reviewed in that context so that national governments are able to directly support investments in clean energy, with blessing from the commission’s powerful competition directorate. 1 These policy reforms will help to ensure effective carbon pricing throughout the economy. The EU also recognises that the global climate and environmental challenges are a significant threat multiplier and a source of instability. While increasing renovation rates is a challenge, renovation lowers energy bills, and can reduce energy poverty. The Commission will consider these suggestions when preparing evaluations, impact assessments and legislative proposals for the European Green Deal. eady to withdraw it if necessary and to propose alternative measures. After a virtual meeting with him earlier Tuesday, the 18 … Transforming the EU’s economy for a sustainable future, Designing a set of deeply transformative policies. In parallel, the decarbonisation of the gas sector will be facilitated, including via enhancing support for the development of decarbonised gases, via a forward-looking design for a competitive decarbonised gas market, and by addressing the issue of energy-related methane emissions. This can be achieved by simplifying and strengthening the legal framework. Recent political events show that game-changing policies only work if citizens are fully involved in designing them. As part of the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan, the Commission will propose a Just Transition Mechanism, including a Just Transition Fund, to leave no one behind. to turn it into an effective tool to support multimodal freight operations involving rail and waterborne transport, including short-sea shipping. The EU budget will play a key role. Accessible and interoperable data are at the heart of data-driven innovation. It will combine dedicated financing to support sustainable investments, and proposals for an improved enabling framework that is conducive to green investment. This Communication presents an initial roadmap of the key policies and measures needed to achieve the European Green Deal. This could be done via clear labels for retail investment products and by developing an EU green bond standard that facilitates sustainable investment in the most convenient way. Pro-active re-skilling and upskilling are necessary to reap the benefits of the ecological transition. he Commission will support clean steel breakthrough technologies leading to a zero-carbon steel making process by 2030 and will explore whether part of the funding being liquidated under the European Coal and Steel Community can be used. Work on climate adaptation should continue to influence public and private investments, including on nature-based solutions. The knowledge and innovation communities run by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology will continue to promote collaboration among higher education institutions, research organisations and companies on climate change, sustainable energy, food for the future, and smart, environmentally-friendly and integrated urban transport. Access to resources is also a strategic security question for Europe’s ambition to deliver the Green Deal. The new EU forest strategy will have as its key objectives effective afforestation, and forest preservation and restoration in Europe, to help to increase the absorption of CO2,, reduce the incidence and extent of forest fires, and promote the bio-economy, in full respect for ecological principles favourable to biodiversity. For companies and their workers, an active social dialogue helps to anticipate and successfully manage change. The Commission proposed the European Green Deal on 11 December 2019. Energy-intensive industries, such as steel, chemicals and cement, are indispensable to Europe’s economy, as they supply several key value chains. Africa-Europe Alliance for sustainable investment and jobs will seek to unlock Africa's potential to make rapid progress towards a green and circular economy including sustainable energy and food systems and smart cities. An immediate priority will be to boost the EU’s ability to predict and manage environmental disasters. COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS, Annex to the Communication on the European Green Deal, Indicative Timetable Increasing offshore wind production will be essential, building on regional cooperation between Member States. It will work with global partners to ensure the EU’s resource security and reliable access to strategic raw materials. The drivers of climate change and biodiversity loss are global and are not limited by national borders. Strengthening the efforts on climate-proofing, resilience building, prevention and preparedness is crucial. Not all Member States, regions and cities start the transition from the same point or have the same capacity to respond. A new circular economy action plan will be tabled in March 2020, as part of a broader EU industrial strategy. Strengthening the efforts on climate-proofing, resilience building, prevention and preparedness is crucial. islation by June 2021. , and the Conference of Parties in Glasgow. Leipzig will be an opportunity to reinforce the partnership between the EU and China on climate and environmental issues, notably ahead of the. New labelling rules will be tabled to promote deforestation-free agricultural products. The Farm to Fork Strategy will strengthen their efforts to tackle climate change, protect the environment and preserve biodiversity. The most important of these are the national energy and climate plans and the proposed strategic national plans to implement the common agricultural policy. At the same time, this transition must be. Work on climate adaptation should continue to influence public and private investments, including on nature-based solutions. Technical assistance and advisory services will help project promoters to identify and prepare projects and to access sources of finance. The team. Long-term signals are needed to direct financial and capital flows to green investment and to avoid stranded assets. These steps will complement the measures taken at national level. EU industry needs ‘climate and resource frontrunners’ to develop the. “Our goal is to reconcile the economy with our planet” and “to make it work for our people,” she added, describing climate policy as Europe’s new growth strategy. European funds, including for rural development, will help rural areas to harness opportunities in the circular and bio-economy. Commission will propose the first European ‘Climate Law’ by March 2020. 13 Where waste cannot be avoided, its economic value must be recovered and its impact on the environment and on climate change avoided or minimised. The Commission will continue to ensure that all relevant legislation is rigorously enforced. The ecological transition will reshape geopolitics, including global economic. The transition to climate neutrality also requires smart infrastructure. At the same time, the EU's energy supply needs to be secure and affordable for consumers and businesses. . It will prioritise, reducing and reusing materials before recycling them. The Commission will propose actions to help consumers choose healthy and sustainable diets and reduce food waste. Coherence of climate and environment policies and a holistic approach are often a precondition for ensuring they are perceived as fair, as illustrated by the debate on taxation of various modes of transport. Regions will also be offered technical assistance in order to help them “absorb” the funds while respecting the EU’s strict spending rules. The EU will launch a “NaturAfrica” initiative to tackle biodiversity loss by creating a network of protected areas to protect wildlife and offer opportunities in green sectors for local populations. It supports the transition of the EU to a fair and prosperous society that responds to the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation, improving the quality of life of current and future generations. there is a risk of carbon leakage, either because production is transferred from the EU to other countries with lower ambition for emission reduction, or because EU products are replaced by more carbon-intensive imports. : Natural Resources for the Future We Want: The International Resource Panel. The Commission is of the view that the EU should stop exporting its waste outside of the EU and will therefore revisit the rules on waste shipments and illegal exports. The UK says it has an "exclusivity deal" with the British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm. The Commission will ensure that they are fit for purpose and that Member States are implementing them effectively, and will use tools such as the European Semester as appropriate. e well-being of citizens at the centre of economic policy, and the sustainable development goals at the heart of the EU’s policymaking and action. One measure likely to attract attention – and controversy – is a proposal for a carbon border tax. The EU and its global partners need to halt biodiversity loss, Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ 2019 Global Assessment Report. This is the overarching objective of the European Green Deal. Should differences in levels of ambition worldwide persist, as the EU increases its climate ambition. 35% of the EU’s research funding will be set aside for climate-friendly technologies under an agreement struck earlier this year. supercomputers, cloud, ultra-fast networks) and artificial intelligence solutions, facilitate evidence-based decisions and expand the capacity to understand and tackle environmental challenges. This rate will need at least to double to reach the EU’s energy efficiency and climate objectives. This work will need to be accompanied by opportunities to de-risk investments in sustainable development through tools such as funding guarantees and blended financing. To achieve this, the EU and Member States will need to look more systematically at all policies and regulations. trade and security interests. While the EU and its Member States remain the world's leading donors of development assistance and provide over 40% of the world's public climate finance. The EU needs to develop innovative ways to protect harvests from pests and diseases and to consider the potential role of new innovative techniques to improve the sustainability of the food system, while ensuring that they are safe. The Commission will also promote action by the EU, its Member States and the international community to step up efforts against environmental crime. They play a direct role by sending the right price signals and providing the right incentives for sustainable behaviour by producers, users and consumers. “Every family in Europe needs to be able to drive their electric car without having to worry about the next charging station,” the official explained. The Commission will propose actions to help consumers choose healthy and sustainable diets and reduce food waste. 27 It will prioritise reducing and reusing materials before recycling them. It also aims to protect, conserve and enhance the EU's natural capital, and protect the health and well-being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts. The European Green Deal will support and accelerate the EU’s industry transition to a sustainable model of inclusive growth. . It resets the Commission’s commitment to tackling climate and environmental-related challenges that is this generation’s defining task. National budgets play a key role in the transition. This would ensure that the price of imports reflect more accurately their carbon content. This will be coordinated with action at global level, notably at the International Civil Aviation Organization and International Maritime Organization. The EU’s forested area needs to improve, both in quality and quantity, for the EU to reach climate neutrality and a healthy environment. “We need more trees in Europe,” the official said, both in cities and in the countryside. Bulletins from Cop25, every morning, straight to your inbox? Increase organic farming. An immediate priority will be to boost the EU’s ability to predict and manage environmental disasters. part of the requirements under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, amending Directive 92/106/EEC on the establishment of common rules for certain types of combined transport of goods between Member States COM(2017) 648, he use of certain infrastructure COM(2017) 275, new monitoring opportunities provided by digitalisation, costs of the transition and the costs of inaction, Proposals for revisions of relevant legislative measures to deliver on the increased climate ambition, following the review of Emissions Trading System Directive; Effort Sharing Regulation; Land use, land use change and forestry Regulation; Energy Efficiency Directive; Renewable Energy Directive; CO, emissions performance standards for cars and vans, https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld, Political guidelines for the next Commission (2019-2024) – ‘A Union that strives for more: My agenda for Europe’, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=cei_srm030&plugin=1, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_19_6353, https://ipbes.net/news/ipbes-global-assessment-preview, https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/lighten-load, Portal of the Publications Office of the EU. This will require notably that the European Parliament and Council adopt the taxonomy for classifying environmentally sustainable activities. This will comprise the Emissions Trading System, a possible extension of European emissions trading to new sectors, Member State targets to reduce emissions in sectors outside the Emissions Trading System, , and the regulation on land use, land use change and forestry. Focus should also be put on renovating schools and hospitals, as the money saved through building efficiency will be money available to support education and public health. To support its work to identify and remedy inconsistencies in current legislation, the Commission invites stakeholders to use the available platforms. The Commission will also support the commitment made by national public financial resources to improve the investment climate and achieve contributions from the private sector. The Commission will develop requirements to ensure that all packaging in the EU market is reusable or recyclable in an economically viable manner by 2030, will develop a regulatory framework for biodegradable and bio-based plastics, and will implement measures on single use plastics. The EU should use its expertise in “green” regulation to encourage partners to design similar rules that are as ambitious as the EU’s rules, thus facilitating trade and enhancing environment protection and climate mitigation in these countries. It will also provide support materials and facilitate the exchange of good practices in EU networks of teacher-training programmes. that address the risk of carbon leakage in the EU’s Emissions Trading System. Environment Amid 'climate emergency,' EU pins hopes on Green Deal. The price of transport must reflect the impact it has on the environment and on health. It can also boost the construction sector and is an opportunity to support SMEs and local jobs. This will increase the efficiency of the transport system. The Commission will propose further legislation and guidance on green public purchasing. First, the strategy will strengthen the foundations for sustainable investment. The Commission will support the deployment of public recharging and refuelling points where persistent gaps exist, notably for long-distance travel and in less densely popu, lated areas, and will launch as quickly as possible a new funding call to support this. A key aim of the new policy framework will be to stimulate the development of lead markets for climate neutral and circular products, in the EU and beyond. To this end, the Commission will review the Non-Financial Reporting Directive. Reliable, comparable and verifiable information also plays an important part in enabling buyers to make more sustainable decisions and reduces the risk of ‘green washing’. The biodiversity strategy will also include proposals to green European cities and increase biodiversity in urban spaces. This will both help to protect citizens and the environment better against hazardous chemicals and encourage innovation for the development of safe and sustainable alternatives. , modelling and air quality plans to help local authorities achieve cleaner air. Europe must leverage the potential of the digital transformation, which is a key enabler for reaching the Green Deal objectives. To be ready in 2050, decisions and actions need to be taken in the next five years. The Commission will ensure that the green transition features prominently in the debate on the future of Europe. The most vulnerable are the most exposed to the harmful effects of climate change and environmental degradation. showed worldwide erosion of biodiversity, caused primarily by changes in how land and sea are used, direct exploitation of natural resources, and with climate change as the third most important driver of biodiversity loss. Carbon-intensive industries like steel, cement and textiles, will also focus the attention under the new circular economy plan. To ensure a toxic-free environment, the Commission will present a chemicals strategy for sustainability. In parallel, the regulatory framework will need to rapidly reflect scientific evidence on the risk posed by endocrine disruptors, hazardous chemicals in products including imports, combination effects of different chemicals and very persistent chemicals. LC-GD-10-1-2020: European capacities for citizen deliberation and participation for the Green Deal LC-GD-10-2-2020: Behavioural, social and cultural change for the Green Deal LC-GD-10-3-2020: Enabling citizens to act on climate change, for sustainable development and environmental protection through education, citizen science, observation initiatives, and civic engagement Stakeholder Europe must not turn its back on the Mediterranean diet The environmental implementation review will play a critical role in mapping the situation in each Member State. “ The coronavirus crisis has shown how vulnerable we all are, and how important it is to restore the balance between human activity and nature. 2.1.4.Building and renovating in an energy and resource efficient way. The Commission will assess the ambition of the plans, , and the need for additional measures if the level of ambition is not sufficient. The Farm to Fork strategy will also contain proposals to improve the position of farmers in the value chain. d the Climate Law to update it accordingly. As an example, the Commission will support clean steel breakthrough technologies leading to a zero-carbon steel making process by 2030 and will explore whether part of the funding being liquidated under the European Coal and Steel Community can be used. More generally, lasting solutions to climate change require greater attention to nature-based solutions including healthy and resilient seas and oceans. The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, in Kunming, China, in October 2020 is an opportunity for the world to adopt a robust global framework to halt biodiversity loss. The Commission will continue to implement the Strategic Action Plan on Batteries and support the European Battery Alliance. because they depend on fossil fuels or carbon-intensive processes. It aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, while boosting the competitiveness of European industry and ensuring a just transition for the regions and Well-designed tax reforms can boost economic growth and resilience to climate shocks and help contribute to a fairer society and to a just transition.