Insights
Insights that lead our way to a circular economy.
The European Green Deal (EU)
Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. To overcome these challenges, the European Green Deal will transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, ensuring less CO2 in the atmosphere and more sustainable agriculture for biodiversity.
Transports and fossil fuel
The European Commission has adopted a set of proposals to make the EU's climate, energy, transport and taxation policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.
The production and use of energy account for more than 75% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonising the EU’s energy system is therefore critical to reach our 2030 climate objectives and the EU’s long-term strategy of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Bioenergy
Bioenergy contributes to the phase-out of fossil fuels and the decarbonisation of the EU economy. But it must be used sustainably. The Commission proposes strict new criteria to avoid unsustainable forest harvesting and to protect areas of high- biodiversity value.
Plants , farming and soil
A more sustainable use of plant and soil natural resources 5 July 2023 - The Commission adopted a package of measures for a sustainable use of key natural resources, which will also strengthen the resilience of European food systems and farming.
The package includes a new soil law, which will help have healthy soils in the EU by 2050, a regulation on plants produced by genome techniques, and measures to reduce food and textile waste.
Buildings
It will provide EUR 72.2 billion over 7 years in funding for renovation of buildings, access to zero and low emission mobility, or even income support. In addition to homes, public buildings must also be renovated to use more renewable energy, and to be more energy efficient.
The Commission proposes to:
- require Member States to renovate at least 3% of the total floor area of all public buildings annually
- set a benchmark of 49% of renewables in buildings by 2030
- require Member States to increase the use of renewable energy in heating and cooling by +1.1 percentage points each year, until 2030
Nature and biodiversity
Restoring nature and enabling biodiversity to thrive again offers a quick and cheap solution to absorb and store carbon.
The Commission proposes therefore to restore Europe’s forests, soils, wetlands and peatlands. This will increase absorption of CO2 and will make our environment more resilient to climate change.
A circular and sustainable management of these resources will:
- improve our living conditions
- maintain a healthy environment
- create quality jobs
- provide sustainable energy resources