Is the EU's Green Deal a Genuine Initiative?
The European Commission has announced a groundbreaking plan, the European Green Deal, aimed at turning Europe into the industrial world's leader in green technology and industry. This ambitious initiative seeks to make the EU the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.
The Green Deal encompasses a wide range of measures, including the evaluation of all major EU laws and policies through the prism of climate protection. It also includes a CO2 tax on imports produced under conditions that violate EU climate standards.
The EU's budget will play a significant role in funding this ambitious project. The current EU budget stands at €165.8 billion, but the European Council has stated that the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) will contribute significantly to climate action. The European Commission plans to spend a trillion euros on the Green Deal strategy by 2030.
However, it is unclear where the one trillion euros needed for the Green Deal will come from. Negotiations over the budget between the EU's institutions will last well into 2020 and will be influenced by the Green Deal. Environmental NGOs and Green parties are calling for the share designated for climate protection in the MFF to be increased to 40% or 50%.
The Green Deal's most important benchmark, the 2030 emission-reduction goals, was initially scheduled to be set in the new Commission's first 100 days. However, the deadline has been postponed to June 2020. The next step in implementing the European Green Deal is setting an interim climate target for 2040, with the EU Commission proposing a 90% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by then to facilitate achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
The European Parliament must approve the Green Deal next year. Despite Poland's failure to endorse the Green Deal at a recent summit, their opposition will not affect the program's implementation, except in Poland. A Climate Law with a climate-neutrality target will be included despite Poland's objections.
The Green Deal could serve as a blueprint for regions and states worldwide. There is a growing consensus among experts and scholars that heading off climate disaster also means reigning in growth and dramatically curtailing consumption habits. The EU Greens, Greenpeace, and Climate Action Network Europe are urging the Commission to propose a reduction of at least 65% by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2040.
The Green Deal includes controversial elements, such as the aim to make Europe the leader in green technology and industry. This ambition has sparked debate among EU member states, with some countries, like Poland, expressing reservations. However, the consensus among the majority of the EU institutions and environmental groups remains strong.
The next EU budget, the 2021-2027 budget, is under discussion. The Paris Agreement commits all countries to submit new, higher 2030 climate targets to the United Nations by November 2020, adding another layer of urgency to the Green Deal's implementation. The Green Deal's success will be crucial in determining Europe's role in the global fight against climate change.
Read also:
- Russia, according to Zelensky, lacks the prowess for launching another significant offensive.
- Russia's Latest Peace Proposals for Donbas: New Diplomatic Landscape Emerges amid Alaska Summit, Potentially Opening Ceasefire Opportunities
- Amidst India's escalating climate crisis, transgender individuals continue to persevere
- Contentious Discussion Surrounding the Movie Release of "Planet of the Humans"
