The Green Deal is the EU’s answer to the ongoing climate crisis. Find out more about this roadmap for a climate-neutral Europe.

In November 2019, the Parliament declared a climate emergency asking the European Commission to adapt all its proposals in line with a 1.5 °C target for limiting global warming and ensure that greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced.

In response, the Commission unveiled the European Green Deal, a roadmap for Europe becoming a climate-neutral continent by 2050.

More on the EU responses to climate change

Achieving Green Deal goals

Enshrining climate neutrality in law

Parliament adopted the EU Climate Law on 24 June 2021, which makes legally binding a target of reducing emissions 55% by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050. This moves the EU closer to its post-2050 objective of negative emissions and confirms its leadership in the global fight against climate change.

Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement to increase the EU’s 2030 emissions reductions target from 40% to at least 55%. Parliament adopted the EU Climate Law on 24 June 2021. The 2030 target and 2050 goal of climate neutrality will be legally binding, moving the EU closer to its post-2050 objective of negative emissions and confirming its leadership in the global fight against climate change.

It should allow the targets to be more easily applied to legislation and should create benefits such as cleaner air, water and soil; reduced energy bill; renovated homes; better public transport and more charging stations for e-cars; less waste; healthier food and better health for current and future generations.

Business will also benefit as opportunities are created in areas where Europe aims to set global standards. It is also expected to generate jobs, for example in renewable energy, energy efficient buildings and processes.

Find out about the EU’s contributions to global climate measures in our timeline

Fit for 55

For the EU to reach the 2030 target, the Commission proposed a package of new and revised legislation known as Fit for 55 in 2021, comprising 13 interlinked revised laws and six proposed laws on climate and energy.

On 22 June, Parliament adopted its position on:

• the revision of the emissions trading scheme (ETS) to include polluting sectors, such as buildings and road transport and phase out free allowances by 2032
• the implementation of the carbon leakage instrument that should put a carbon price on imported goods to counter relocation to countries with less ambitious climate targets
• a fund to ensure a fair energy transition by tackling the resulting energy and mobility poverty, funded by the auctioning of ETS allowances

Earlier in June, MEPs adopted their position on:

MEPs will decide on their position on energy topics such as renewables, efficiency and taxes in the coming months.

Read more on current EU measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Boosting the circular economy

In addition the Commission presented the EU Circular Economy Action Plan in March 2020, which includes measures along the entire life cycle of products promoting circular economy processes, fostering sustainable consumption and guaranteeing less waste. It will focus on:

In July 2022, MEPs are expected to vote on the EU’s new industrial strategy to help businesses overcome the Covid-related crisis and make the transition to a greener, circular economy. In November 2021, MEPs called for a more comprehensive EU strategy for critical raw materials to make Europe less dependent on the imports of critical raw materials that are crucial for its strategic industries.

Find out more about the benefits of the circular economy and how the Parliament fights plastic pollution.

Creating a sustainable food system

The food sector is one the main drivers of climate change. Even though EU agriculture is the only major farm sector worldwide to have reduced its greenhouse gas emissions (by 20% since 1990), it still accounts for about 10% of emissions (of which 70% are due to animals).

The  Farm to Fork strategy, presented by the Commission in May 2020, should guarantee a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system, whilst ensuring farmers’ livelihoods. It covers the entire food supply chain, from cutting the use of pesticides and sales of antimicrobials by half and reducing the use of fertilisers to increasing the use of organic farming.

Parliament welcomed the EU’s farm to fork strategy in a resolution adopted in October 2021, but added recommendations to make it even more sustainable. Parliament specified that the Fit for 55 package should include ambitious targets for emissions from agriculture and related land use.

Preserving biodiversity

At the same time the EU aims to tackle the loss in biodiversity, including the potential extinction of one million species. The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, unveiled in May 2020 by the Commission, aims to protect nature, reverse the degradation of ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss.

Parliament adopted its position on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: bringing nature back into our lives on 8 June 2020, insisting that its implementation is consistent with other European Green Deal strategies.

Parliament has been advocating sustainable forestry as forests play an essential role in absorbing and offsetting carbon emissions. MEPs also recognise forestry’s contribution to creating jobs in rural communities and the role the EU could play in protecting and restoring the world’s forests.

Find out climate change facts and figures

Financing the green transition

In January 2020, the Commission presented the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan, the strategy to finance the Green Deal by attracting at least €1 trillion worth of public and private investment over the next decade.

As part of the investment plan, the Just Transition Mechanism should help alleviate the socio-economic impact of the transition on workers and communities most affected by the shift. In May 2020, the Commission proposed a public sector loan facility to support green investments in regions dependent on fossil fuels, which was approved by the Parliament in June 2021.

Parliament and Council agreed on the introduction of new sources of revenue to fund the EU budget and the Covid-19 economic recovery plan. These would include proceeds from the Emissions Trading System and a carbon border adjustment mechanism that would impose a levy on imports of certain goods.

To encourage investment in environmentally sustainable activities and prevent companies falsely claiming their products are environmentally friendly – practice known as green-washing -Parliament adopted new legislation on sustainable investments in June 2020. In November 2020, MEPs also asked for a shift from an unsustainable to a sustainable economic system, as crucial to develop the long-term strategic autonomy of the EU and to increase the EU’s resilience.

Discover how the Just Transition Fund will help EU regions make the transition to a greener economy

In response to Russia’s war against Ukraine, this law aims to refill Europe’s strategic gas reserves more quickly before winter to ensure energy supplies are secure.

The new regulation, already agreed upon with EU ministers, sets a mandatory minimum level of gas in storage facilities at 80% by 1 November 2022. Member states and operators should strive to reach 85%. The target will be 90% for subsequent years to protect Europeans from possible supply shocks. The text highlights the need for EU countries to diversify gas supply sources and boost energy efficiency measures.

Mandatory certification for gas storage facilities

Under the regulation, gas storage facilities will become critical infrastructure. All storage operators will have to undergo new mandatory certification to avoid risks of outside interference. Operators who fail to secure this certification will have to give up ownership or control of EU gas storage facilities.

Joint procurement

By August 2022, the Commission will issue guidance on how EU countries can jointly procure gas, to be activated voluntarily by two or more member states.

Quotes

“The regulation is the answer to the current situation. Gazprom is using energy supply as a weapon (…) so we’ve got our protective shield”, said MEP Jerzy Buzek (EPP, PL), who is leading the Parliament’s negotiating team.

With the regulation, “no one who uses energy as a weapon (…) will be responsible for our storage capacities. Also, we can formally start our joint purchasing of natural gas in the EU” he added.

“Countries with large storage capacities will be obliged to have at least 35% of their consumption there. Countries that do not have a storage capacity will need to conclude agreements with the other member states to store the necessary quantities of gas for them. This is a solidarity mechanism incentivised by this regulation”, said rapporteur and Industry, Research and Energy Committee Chair Cristian Buşoi (EPP, RO).

You can watch the full video statements here.

Next steps

The legislation was adopted on Thursday with 490 votes to 47, and 55 abstentions. It now requires the formal approval by Council before publication in the Official Journal and entry into force.

Background

The legislative proposal was adopted by the Commission on 23 March, in the context of the Russian war against Ukraine. Parliament voted on 5 April in favour of triggering a fast-track procedure and backed the proposal two days later. At the Versailles Summit, EU leaders requested measures to address the issue of energy independence.