The EU Green Deal

The EU Green Deal – a roadmap to sustainable economies

Following the Paris Agreement the world has committed to move towards a low-carbon economy. Many countries are now implementing policies to facilitate transition to cleaner economies. The European Commission first presented its proposals for implementing the Paris Agreement in a Communication in March 2016, followed by A European Strategy for Low-Emission Mobility in June 2016. The European Commission then formulated different pathways to attain the objectives of the Paris Agreement in the Communication “A Clean Planet for all – A European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy”, recommending to aim for a carbon-neutral economy by 2050. In the Green Deal Communication, the Commission then formulated the building blocks to set the EU economy firmly on the path towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

In relation to transport, the Green Deal sets an ambitious target: by 2050, transport emissions will have to be reduced by 90 percent, compared to 1990.

Currently, transport represents almost a quarter of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions and is the main cause of air pollution in cities. CO2 emissions from transport have been consistently increasing over the past years, in stark contrast with the trend in other sectors such as electricity generation.

But also other pollutant emissions from transport need to be drastically reduced without delay. Emissions of air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, NOx and particulate matter, are the most significant causes of premature deaths in the EU, with estimates of more than 400,000 premature deaths each year, including 76,000 directly linked to nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

Changing the fuel base to low and zero-emission alternative fuels is one important element of this overall transition. Some of these alternative fuels require the roll-out of new infrastructure for refuelling and recharging.

The European Green Deal  presents a roadmap for making the EU’s economy sustainable by turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities across all policy areas and making the transition just and inclusive for all. The European Green Deal aims to boost the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean, circular economy and stop climate change, revert biodiversity loss and cut pollution. It outlines investments needed and financing tools available, and explains how to ensure a just and inclusive transition. The European Green Deal covers all sectors of the economy, notably transport, energy, agriculture, buildings, and industries such as steel, cement, ICT, textiles and chemicals.

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:

  • no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050
  • economic growth decoupled from resource use
  • no person and no place left behind

The European Green Deal is also our lifeline out of the COVID-19 pandemic. One third of the 1.8 trillion euro investments from the NextGenerationEU Recovery Plan, and the EU’s seven-year budget will finance the European Green Deal.

Road transport is a main contributor of CO2 emissions, and therefore a lot of focus and energy will be needed to de carbonize this sector as part of the EU Green Deal.

According to the European Environment Agency:

  • In 2017, 27 % of total EU-28 greenhouse gas emissions came from the transport sector (22 % if international aviation and maritime emissions are excluded). CO2 emissions from transport increased by 2.2 % compared with 2016.
  • Emissions from transport (including international aviation but excluding international shipping) in 2017 were 28 % above 1990 levels, despite a decline between 2008 and 2013.
  • International aviation was responsible for the largest percentage increase in greenhouse gas emissions over 1990 levels (+129 %), followed by international shipping (+32 %) and road transport (+23 %). However, EEA estimates show that emissions from transport (including aviation) decreased by 0.7 % in 2018.
  • Emissions need to fall by around two thirds by 2050, compared with 1990 levels, in order to meet the long-term 60 % greenhouse gas emission reduction target as set out in the 2011 Transport White Paper.

The Green Deal aims to boost the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean, circular economy and stop climate change, revert biodiversity loss and cut pollution. It outlines investments needed and financing tools available, and explains how to ensure a just and inclusive transition. The European Green Deal covers all sectors of the economy, notably transport, energy, agriculture, buildings, and industries such as steel, cement, ICT, textiles and chemicals.