European Green Deal

SUMMARY OF:

Communication from the Commission — The European Green Deal

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE COMMUNICATION?

It sets out a plan of action to make the EU’s economy sustainable by turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities across all areas of policy in a way that is fair and inclusive. The European Green Deal is the new growth strategy for an EU economy that is sustainable, cleaner, safer and healthier.

KEY POINTS

• The communication includes a roadmap, a plan including concrete actions to:
  • ensure that there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050;
  • boost the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean, circular economy;
  • restore biodiversity and cut pollution.
• The Green Deal covers all sectors; the European Commission will issue proposals for action in a number of policy areas:
  • clean energy;
  • sustainable industry;
  • building and renovating;
  • sustainable mobility;
  • biodiversity;
  • from farm to fork;
  • eliminating pollution;
  • climate action.
• The communication outlines the investments needed and the financing tools available. The Commission presented a Sustainable Europe Investment Plan and will present a Green Financing Strategy in 2020.
• The Commission proposed an EU Climate Law which will turn the EU’s political commitment to be climate neutral by 2050 into a legal obligation.
• A Just Transition Mechanism will support EU regions that rely heavily on very carbon-intensive activities.
• The Commission will launch a European Climate Pact to give citizens and stakeholders a voice and role in designing new climate actions, sharing information, launching grassroots activities and showcasing solutions that others can follow.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

• A European Green Deal (European Commission)
• EU climate action and the European Green Deal (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENT

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 — The European Green Deal (COM(2019) 640 final, 11.12.2019)

last update 23.04.2020