This data, combined with digital infrastructure (e.g. InvestEU also strengthens cooperation with national promotional banks and institutions, which can encourage an overall greening of their activities to deliver on EU policy objectives. This challenge is beyond the means of individual Member States. . While the circular economy action plan will guide the transition of all sectors, action will focus in particular on resource-intensive sectors such as textiles, construction, electronics and plastics. The Farm to Fork strategy will also contain proposals to improve the position of farmers in the value chain. The guidelines will be revised by 2021 to reflect the policy objectives of the European Green Deal, supporting a cost-effective transition to climate neutrality by 2050, and will facilitate the phasing out of fossil fuels, in particular those that are most polluting, ensuring a level-playing field in the internal market. ns for regular stocktaking and updates. It will prioritise reducing and reusing materials before recycling them. Since it will bring substantial change, active public participation and confidence in the transition is paramount if policies are to work and be accepted. News EU lauds new Green Deal as Europe's 'man on moon moment' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has praised a plan to make Europe the world's first climate neutral continent. This will include an open platform bringing together the buildings and construction sector, architects and engineers and local authorities to address the barriers to renovation. Sustainable re- and afforestation and the restoration of degraded forests can increase absorption of CO2 while improving the resilience of forests and promoting the circular bio-economy. Sustainability should be further embedded into the corporate governance framework, as many companies still focus too much on short-term financial performance compared to their long-term development and sustainability aspects. All EU actions and policies should pull together to help the EU achieve a successful and just transition towards a sustainable future. The transition to climate neutrality also requires smart infrastructure. At least 35% of the budget of Horizon Europe will fund new solutions for climate, which are relevant for implementing the Green Deal. This framework should foster the deployment of. At the same time, this transition must be just and inclusive. 3 The European Green Deal provides an action plan to. The Commission will also work with the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, national promotional banks and institutions, as well as with other international financial institutions. Greening national budgets and sending the right price signals. InvestEU also offers Member States the option to use the EU budgetary guarantee e.g. The price of transport must reflect the impact it has on the environment and on health. They also call for an adequately funded just transition mechanism. By setting a credible example, and. The EU’s trade policy facilitates trade and investment in green goods and services and promotes climate-friendly public procurement. The EU budget will also contribute to achieving climate objectives on the revenue side. Achieving sustainable transport means putting users first and providing them with more affordable, accessible, healthier and cleaner alternatives to their current mobility habits. he Climate Law will also ensure that all EU policies contribute to the climate neutrality objective and that all sectors play their part. The EU will put emphasis on supporting its immediate neighbours. The EU will continue to engage with the economies of the G20 that are responsible for 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 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. 4 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. The EU is also working with global partners to develop international carbon markets. Ensuring the supply of sustainable raw materials, in particular of critical raw materials necessary for clean technologies, digital, space and defence applications, by diversifying supply from both primary and secondary sources, is therefore one of the pre-requisites to make this transition happen. ouse gas emissions and more than 90% of biodiversity loss and water stress come from resource extraction and processing of materials, fuels and food. The full range of instruments available under the Horizon Europe programme will support the research and innovation efforts needed. Digitalisation also presents new opportunities for distance monitoring of air and water pollution, or for monitoring and optimising how energy and natural resources are used. 2. “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. pollution from being generated as well as measures to clean and remedy it. ensure that the price of imports reflect more accurately their carbon content. This will make it easier to assess to what extent annual budgets and medium-term fiscal plans take environmental considerations and risks into account, and learn from best practices. initial roadmap of the key policies and measures needed to achieve the European Green Deal, . But it is not all down to the EU Commission, the Member States must rise to the challenge to achieve a truly green recovery. The guidelines will be revised by 2021 to reflect the policy objectives of the European Green Deal, supporting a cost-effective transition to climate neutrality by 2050, and will facilitate the phasing out of fossil fuels, in particular those that are most polluting, ensuring a level-playing field in the internal market. This includes investment to provide affordable solutions to those affected by carbon pricing policies, for example through public transport, as well as measures to address energy poverty and promote re-skilling. Climate policy implications should become an integral part of the EU’s thinking and action on external issues, including in the context of the Common Security and Defence Policy. To ensure that the EU plays a key role, the Commission will present a. be followed up by specific action in 2021. Schools, training institutions and universities are well placed to engage with pupils, parents, and the wider community on the changes needed for a successful transition. The Commission will work with the Member States to develop the potential of sustainable seafood as a source of low-carbon food. The Commission will also support other initiatives leading to alliances and to a large-scale pooling of resources, for example in the form of Important Projects of Common European Interest, where targeted time-bound State aid can help build new innovative value chains. It remains too ‘linear’, and dependent on a throughput of new materials extracted, traded and processed into goods, and finally disposed of as waste or emissions. improve the way its better regulation guidelines and supporting tools address sustainability and innovation issues. The Commission will take forward the work on the Clean Energy for EU Islands Initiative to develop a long-term framework to accelerate the clean energy transition on all EU islands. It calls on the European Parliament and the Council to maintain the high level of ambition in the Commission’s original proposal for the ‘Eurovignette’ Directive The Commission will draw on the lessons learnt from the evaluation of the current air quality legislation In 2020, the Commission will produce guidance to assist Member States in addressing the issue of energy poverty. New business models based on renting and sharing goods and services will play a role as long as they are truly sustainable and affordable. Green Deal Krichbaum agrees that the EU faces big challenges that require a generous budget. InvestEU also strengthens cooperation with national promotional banks and institutions, which can encourage an overall greening of their activities to deliver on EU policy objectives. New measures on their own will not be enough to achieve the European Green Deal’s objectives. For companies and their workers, an active social dialogue helps to anticipate and successfully manage change. The Commission will also work to lift national regulatory barriers that inhibit energy efficiency investments in rented and multi-ownership buildings. Priority areas include clean hydrogen, fuel cells and other alternative fuels, energy storage, and carbon capture, storage and utilisation. An essential aim would be to organise renovation efforts into larger blocks to benefit from better financing conditions and economies of scale. It will assess progress towards achieving long-term goals. vate investment. However, any state aid would have to be vetted by the commission as part of new regional transition plans submitted beforehand to Brussels. The Commission will also work with Member States to improve the prevention of industrial accidents. The European Green Deal will support and accelerate the EU’s industry transition to a sustainable model of inclusive growth. To achieve climate neutrality, a 90% reduction in transport emissions is needed by 2050. Consumer policy will help to empower consumers to make informed choices and play an active role in the ecological transition. 2.Transforming the EU’s economy for a sustainable future, 2.1.Designing a set of deeply transformative policies. Building on the 2030 biodiversity strategy, the Commission will prepare a new EU forest strategy covering the whole forest cycle and promoting the many services that forests provide. The environmental implementation review will play a critical role in mapping the situation in each Member State. To this end, the Commission will review the Non-Financial Reporting Directive. As a matter of priority, a substantial part of the 75% of inland freight carried today by road should shift onto rail and inland waterways. The Commission will launch a European Climate Pact by March 2020 to focus on three ways to engage with the public on climate action. In addition to the Climate Pact, the Commission and Member States should work to ensure that all available planning tools for the European Green Deal are used coherently. These could include quantified objectives, such as increasing the coverage of protected biodiversity-rich land and sea areas building on the Natura 2000 network.