The European Green Deal is a concept presented by the European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen on December 11, 2019 with the aim of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union to zero by 2050 and thus becoming the first continent to become climate neutral. The European Green Deal is one of the six priorities of the von der Leyen I Commission. The Green Deal is to become a central component of the European Union's climate policy.
The European Green Deal comprises a series of measures in the areas of financial market regulation (sustainable finance), energy supply, transport, trade, industry, agriculture and forestry. The existing target of reducing the European Union'sCO2 emissions by 40 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels is to be tightened to a reduction of 50 to 55 percent. To this end, the EU member states should adapt their climate plans accordingly by 2023. The EU Commission presented a corresponding law (European Climate Law) on March 4, 2020. Furthermore, particularly affected countries are to be supported with a total of 100 billion euros in their transition to an emissions-free economy. The second action plan for the circular economy was also presented in March 2020.
On September 17, 2020, the European Commission tightened the initial reduction target to 55% of 1990 greenhouse gas emissions. On October 6, 2020, the European Parliament called for a further tightening to 60% reduction by 2030 and the creation of an independent, interdisciplinary Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change. On April 21, 2021, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached a provisional agreement on the European Climate Change Act. The adoption procedure was completed with the Council's approval on June 28, 2021. Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 entered into force on July 29, 2021. Individual relevant points are:
Green Recovery
Green Recovery refers to measures and investments to support the economy, taking into account the design of structural change towards a sustainable economy.
Just Transition Fund
The Just Transition Fund (JTF) is a tool created on the basis of Article 175 TFEU to support just regional structural change towards climate neutrality by 2050. The target regions are those that are particularly dependent on the extraction or use of fossil primary energy sources or that emit high levels of greenhouse gases in industrial processes.
REPowerEU
In May 2022, the EU Commission presented the REPowerEU plan to respond to disruptions in the global energy markets.
Green Deal Industrial Plan
EU measures to maintain the competitiveness of European industry (vis-à-vis America and China).
