Hrvatski
In January, the Commission presented the Sustainable Europe Investment , a strategy to fund the Green Deal by attracting at least a trillion euros in public and private investment over the next decade.
During the coronavirus pandemic, economic activity slowed, leading to a reduction in carbon emissions, but also to the recession facing the EU. In a resolution adopted on 15 May 2020, Parliament called for the adoption of an ambitious recovery plan based on the Green Deal.
The Commission is creating a € 750 billion ‘next-generation EU recovery plan’, which, together with the next long-term EU budget yet to be approved by Member States and Parliament, aims to build a greener, more inclusive, digital and sustainable Europe and help strengthen resilience. future crises like the climate crisis.
In November 2019, Parliament declared a climate crisis, asking the Commission to include in all its proposals to limit global warming to 1.5 ° C and to ensure a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
In response, the Commission is presenting a European Green Deal, with which Europe should become climate neutral by 2050.
First steps within the Green Deal
Financing the green transition
In January, the Commission presented the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan, a strategy to fund the Green Deal by attracting at least a trillion euros in public and private investment over the next decade.
The Fair Transition Mechanism, part of the investment plan, should help mitigate the social and economic consequences of the transition for workers and communities most affected by the change. In May 2020, the Commission is proposing a loan instrument to the public sector to support green investment in fossil fuel dependent regions, to be approved by Parliament.
Parliament and the Council agreed to introduce new sources of revenue to finance the budget and recovery plan. These include revenues from the emissions trading system and a carbon cap adjustment mechanism that would impose a levy on imports of certain goods.
To encourage investment in environmentally sustainable activities, Parliament passed new legislation on sustainable investment on 18 June.
In November, lawmakers called for a transition from an unsustainable to a sustainable economic system, as a crucial condition for developing long-term strategic autonomy and increasing the EU’s resilience.
Climate neutrality as part of the law
In March 2020, the Commission proposed the European Climate Act, the legal framework for achieving climate neutrality by 2050. In January, Parliament called for more ambitious emission reduction targets than those originally proposed by the Commission.
Parliament adopted its negotiating mandate on climate law in October 2020, supporting the goal of climate neutrality by 2050 and reducing emissions by 60 percent by 2030 from 1990 levels, which is more ambitious than the Commission’s original 55 percent proposal. and more than the current interim target of 40 percent. Once the Member States have established their position on the climate law in the Council, Parliament and the Council begin negotiations on the final text, which must be approved by both institutions.
Empowering European industry and small and medium-sized enterprises
In March 2020, the Commission presented a new industrial strategy for Europe to enable European companies to move towards climate neutrality and a digital future. In November, Parliament called for a revision of the proposal and consideration of the consequences of the pandemic in the industrial sector. MEPs want the EU to support the industry during the initial phase of recovery and then focus on transformation and greater autonomy in the second phase.
With SMEs accounting for 99% of European companies, which account for 50% of GDP and account for 2 out of 3 jobs, the Commission has at the same time proposed a new strategy for SMEs that encourages innovation, cuts red tape and provides better access. financing. At the December plenary session, MEPs should vote on their position on the SME strategy and ask the Commission to update it in line with the new coronavirus situation, highlighting liquidity problems and digital aspects, as well as support for a greener economy.
Stimulating the circular economy
In March, the Commission also presented an EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy, which includes measures for the whole life cycle of products that promote the circular economy, encourage sustainable consumption and guarantee less waste. The focus is on:
electronics and information and communication technology
batteries and vehicles
packaging and plastics
textiles
construction and buildings
food chain
Creating a sustainable food system
The food sector is one of the main drivers of climate change. Although agriculture in the EU is the only major agricultural sector in the world where greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced (by 20 percent since 1990), it is still responsible for about 10 percent of emissions (of which 70 percent is from animals).
Field-to-fork Strategy
Presented by the Commission in May 2020, a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system should be guaranteed, while ensuring sufficient resources for a decent life for farmers. It covers the entire food supply chain, from halving the use of pesticides and the sale of antimicrobials and reducing the use of fertilizers to increasing organic farming.
Biodiversity conservation
At the same time, the EU is working to address the problem of biodiversity loss, including the possible extinction of millions of species. The EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, presented in May, aims to protect nature, halt ecosystem degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Among the main goals are:
increasing protected areas
reversing the trend of declining pollinator numbers
planting 3 billion trees by 2030.
providing € 20 billion a year for biodiversity
Parliament is committed to sustainable forestry because forests play a key role in absorbing and mitigating carbon emissions. MEPs recognize the importance of forestry in creating jobs in rural communities and the role the EU can play in protecting and restoring the world’s forests. The Commission needs to develop an EU forest strategy in the first quarter of 2021.
Source: European Parliament
