European Green Deal

Strategies for Sustainable Development
in Politics and Economy
The European Green Deal
Technische Universität Berlin

Department of Environmental Technology
Chair of Sustainable Engineering
Learning outcome
• Knowing the overall aim of the European Green Deal
• Knowing the different areas that the European Green Deal addresses
• Knowing about the funding
• Being aware of the approach of the European Green Deal
• Being aware of its limits
Dr. Vanessa Bach Strategies for Sustainable Development: Policies & Governance
European Green Deal - Introduction
• The European Green Deal was introduced

by Ursula von der Leyen president of the
European Commission by the end of 2019
and on 15th of January 2020 the European
parliament voted to support it
• It lays down EU growth policy framework

to be adopted in the next five years https://www.blaetter.de/sites/default/files/styles/article_mai
nimage/public/images/2020/03/greenleyen.jpg?itok=tJLdJJJN
• Consists of a set of policy initiatives by the European Commission with the

overarching aim of making Europe climate neutral in 2050 and decoupling the
economy from natural resources
• The plan is to review each existing law on its climate merits, and also
introduce new legislation on the circular economy, building renovation,
biodiversity, farming and innovation
The European Green Deal – Policy areas
https://www.compostnetwork.info/eu-green-deal/ 4
European Green Deal – First steps
Proposal of
Proposal of a a Circular
European Climate Economy
Law as a legal Action Plan
Presentation framework to focusing on
achieve the 2050 sustainable Presentation of
of the
climate neutrality resource the 2030
European
goal use Climate Target
Green Deal
Plan
December January 4 March 10 March 11 March 20 May September October

2019 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020
Adoption of Presentation of the Presentation of

Presentation European Farm-to-Fork Strategy on the
of the Industrial Strategy Strategy and the sustainable use
European to ensure that Biodiversity of chemicals
Green Deal European Strategy aiming at and Strategy for
Investment businesses can the creation of a a sustainable
Plan transition towards sustainable food building sector
climate neutrality system and the
and a digital preserving of
future biodiversity
Financing the European Green Deal
European Green Deal Investment Plan (over 10 years)
• The Investment Plan is designed

to attract at least 1 trillion euros
worth of public and private
investment over the next decade
• The EU budget money will come

from various programmes that
contribute to climate and
environment projects, for
instance through agricultural
funds, the Regional Development
Fund, Horizon Europe and the
Life programme
• The InvestEU Fund will leverage around EUR 279 billion of private and public
climate and environmentally-related investments by providing an EU budget
guarantee to reduce the risk in financing and investment operations
• Revenues from the auctioning of carbon allowances under the Emissions Trading
Scheme will provide at least some EUR 25billion
7
The Just Transition Mechanism
• €100 billion should be attracted using the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM)
• Designed to support regions and communities that are most affected by a green
transition, for instance regions that are strongly reliant on extractive industries
and related energy production as well as carbon intensive industries
• To address the specific challenges in these regions and to alleviate the socio-
economic impact of the transition, the Commission has introduced the JTM
• Includes financing from the EU budget, co-financing from the Member States as
well as contributions from InvestEU and the European Investment Bank
Who will benefit and what will be funded by the JTM?
People and citizens, most vulnerable to the transition

• Upskilling and reskilling of workers for alternative employment
• Job search assistance
• Energy-efficient housing
• Access to clean, affordable and secure energy
Companies and sectors, active in or comprising carbon-

intensive industries
• Supporting the transition to low-carbon technologies and economic diversification
based on climate-resilient investments and jobs
• Providing easier access to loans and financial support
• Investing in the creation of new firms, SMEs and start-ups
• Investing in research and innovation activities
Member States and regions, with high dependence on fossil fuel

and carbon-intensive industries
• Supporting the transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient activities
• Creating new jobs in the green economy
• Investing in public and sustainable transport
• Providing technical assistance
• Investing in renewable energy sources
Climate Target Plan
The Circular Economy Action Plan and
the Biodiversity Strategy
10
The Climate Target Plan 2030
• The Commission’s proposal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by

2030 is the first step towards becoming climate neutral by 2050
• A comprehensive impact assessment shows how all sectors of the economy and
society can contribute and sets out the policy actions required to achieve this
goal
https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/eu-climate-
action/2030_ctp_en
11
The Climate Target Plan 2030
• The Commission’s proposal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by

2030 is the first step towards becoming climate neutral by 2050
• A comprehensive impact assessment shows how all sectors of the economy and
society can contribute and sets out the policy actions required to achieve this
goal
https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/eu-climate-action/2030_ctp_en
12
Identified policy areas
• Some of the identified policy areas based on the impact assessment for which
by June 2021 legislative proposals will be presented:
13
A New Circular Economy Action Plan
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/30317
• Global consumption of materials such as
biomass, fossil fuels, metals and minerals is
expected to double in the next forty years,
while annual waste generation is projected
to increase by 70% by 2050
• Goal of the circular economy action plan is to help achieving climate neutrality by 2050
and decoupling economic growth from resource use
Main areas:
– Design sustainable products by restricting single-use products and by ensuring that

products on the EU market are designed to last longer, are easier to reuse, repair,
and recycle, and incorporate recycled material as much as possible
– Focus on sectors that use the most resources and have the potential for high
circularity e.g. electronics, batteries, vehicles, packaging, plastics, construction
– Ensure less waste by transforming it into high-quality secondary resources and

implementing actions to minimize EU waste exports and tackle illegal shipments
14
A New Circular Economy Action Plan
Some key initiatives Date
Legislative and non-legislative measures establishing a new “right to 2021

repair”
Review of the rules on end-of-life vehicles 2021
Initiative to substitute single-use packaging, tableware and cutlery 2021

by reusable products in food services
Mandatory requirements on recycled plastic content and plastic 2021/2022
waste reduction measures for key products such as packaging,
construction materials and vehicles
Waste reduction targets for specific streams and other measures on 2022
waste prevention
Revision of the rules on waste shipments 2021
15
Biodiversity Strategy for 2030
16
Biodiversity Strategy
Some key initiatives Date
New action plan to conserve fisheries resources and 2021

protect marine ecosystems
Guidance and support to Member States to identify sites and 2021
help mobilize funding for the restoration of 25,000 km of free-
flowing rivers
Action Plan for Organic Farming for 2021-2026 2020
Proposal for EU nature restoration targets 2021
Revision of the EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking 2021
New EU Forest Strategy including a roadmap for planting at 2021

least 3 billion additional trees in the EU by 2030
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1590574123338&uri=CELEX%3A52020DC0380
17
Summary and criticism
• All in all the numerous initiatives of the Deal aim at adjusting the legal and the
financial framework of the EU to help achieve climate neutrality goal by 2050
• Therefore the deal presents a set of policies for the different areas of action
including a timetable to review and/ or reform existing laws, propose new
laws, work out new strategies/ action plans
• While some of the announced strategies and initiatives have been presented
already it is still a work in progress and many of the projects mentioned will
only be finalized within the next four years
The Guardian: “Setting aside the fact that the €100bn per annum is so far fictitious, it does not come
close to the funding needed to deliver the targets. Don’t take our word for it. The commission itself
estimates that Europe needs €260bn annually to achieve its 2030 climate and energy targets – more
than double the amount on offer.”
Emerging Europe: “The deal been criticized by environmental advocacy groups such as Greenpeace, who
say that these funds [Just Transition Fund] should not be given to countries not committed to phasing at
fossil fuels. The EU budget currently allows investments in fossil fuels and nuclear energy.”
18
For further interest…
• The initiative “Democracy in Europe Movement” published a counter draft to the deal
proposed by the Commission: the „Green new deal for Europe“
• What are your thoughts on the proposal? Do you think it is realistic/ appropriate/
utopian?
https://www.gndforeurop
e.com/about
19
Thank you for your attention!
Technische Universität Berlin

Department of Environmental Technology
Chair of Sustainable Engineering

European Green Deal

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Strategies for Sustainable Development

in Politics and Economy

The European Green Deal

Technische Universität Berlin

• Knowing the overall aim of the European Green Deal

• Knowing about the funding

• Being aware of the approach of the European Green Deal

• Being aware of its limits

• The European Green Deal was introduced

• It lays down EU growth policy framework

• Consists of a set of policy initiatives by the European Commission with the

December January 4 March 10 March 11 March 20 May September October

Adoption of Presentation of the Presentation of

• The Investment Plan is designed

• The EU budget money will come

People and citizens, most vulnerable to the transition

Companies and sectors, active in or comprising carbon-

Member States and regions, with high dependence on fossil fuel

• The Commission’s proposal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by

• The Commission’s proposal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by

– Design sustainable products by restricting single-use products and by ensuring that

– Ensure less waste by transforming it into high-quality secondary resources and

Some key initiatives Date

Legislative and non-legislative measures establishing a new “right to 2021

Initiative to substitute single-use packaging, tableware and cutlery 2021

Some key initiatives Date

New action plan to conserve fisheries resources and 2021

Proposal for EU nature restoration targets 2021

Revision of the EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking 2021

New EU Forest Strategy including a roadmap for planting at 2021

Technische Universität Berlin

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