Reports

ESDN Reports provide in-depth documentation of a selected topic related to sustainable development. 

A year after the presentation of the European Green Deal (EGD) by the European Commission, the urgency of acting on the climate crisis has not decreased. While the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic may have dominated the news since March 2020, the year 2020 is likely to be one of the three hottest years on record.[1] While the economic shutdowns around the world may have contributed to a record reduction of 7% in carbon emissions, this is likely to be only temporary as economies around the world recover.[2] This underlines the need for systemic long-term changes of the economic system.

The EGD is the Flagship Initiative of the current European Commission and was presented by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 11 December 2019. It comprises a number of initiatives, strategies and legislative acts that, together, are intended to enable a just, sustainable and inclusive transformation of European society and economy.

While Europe is still facing notable challenges regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important that the climate crisis and other ecological crises not be pushed to the side. In fact, it can be argued that the recovery from the Covid-19 crisis presents an opportunity to accelerate a sustainable transformation. In line with this, the European Union’s recovery programme, “Next Generation EU”, adopted in July 2020, reinforces many of the initiatives proposed in the EGD.

This Report aims to serve as a comprehensive overview of the EGD, the initiatives it comprises and other European strategies related to achieving a green transition and the 2030 Agenda. Chapter 1 will provide an introduction into the make-up of the EGD and the different aspects that accompany it. Chapter 2 covers some of the more technical aspects of the implementation of the EGD, especially how it is financed and the Just Transition Mechanism, that aims to ensure that no one is left behind. It will also go into the more practical issues of implementing an economic transition of unprecedented scale. Issues covered include the challenge of generating and maintaining public support and the growth dilemma. These are not a direct part of the EGD, but are crucial to achieving the aims the Commission has set out to achieve. Chapter 3 will provide a brief insight into each of the eight key areas of action that are outlined in the EGD. The fourth, and final chapter, will provide a summary and some key insights for policymakers.

[1] World Metereological Organisation. (2020, December 2). 2020 on track to be one of the three warmest years on record. Public.Wmo.Int. https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/2020-track-be-one-of-three-warmest-years-record

[2] Deutsche Welle. (n.d.). Global carbon emissions down by record 7% in 2020. Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 10 December 2020, from https://www.dw.com/en/global-carbon-emissions-down-by-record-7-in-2020/a-55900887