Commission announces European Green Deal

11 December 2019

Less than two weeks since taking offi...

Less than two weeks since taking office, the new Commission has put forward its proposal for a European Green Deal – one of the most eagerly anticipated points of President von der Leyen’s political agenda. The announcement comes at a time of heightened activity around climate action: from the COP25 summit in Madrid, to a meeting of EU energy ministers on smart sector integration and national energy and climate plans, to the European Environmental Agency’s ‘State of the Environment 2020’ report underlining the unprecedented scale of the challenges we face.

Appearing at COP25 last week, President von der Leyen dubbed the Green Deal Europe’s “new growth strategy”. Representing many of the European companies at the leading edge of innovation in green tech, Orgalim is convinced that the EU has a unique opportunity to transform these climate challenges into drivers of prosperity.  “The European Commission has rightly made the European Green Deal its flagship policy. It sets the bar high and it is clear that the Green Deal will only deliver if policy makers and EU industry work hand in hand,” underlines Malte Lohan, Orgalim Director General. ”The future of Europe, the future of EU industry and the future of our planet are inextricably linked,” he states.  

“We at Orgalim envision a European Green Deal that reinvigorates the EU and drives an industrial renaissance for a clean planet for all,” adds Sigrid Linher, Orgalim’s Director for Energy, Climate and Environment. “If we are to reach climate neutrality by 2050, the next decade is critical for implementing the Paris Agreement and turning decarbonisation challenges into opportunities.” For Orgalim, a number of core implementation measures will be crucial in the decade ahead:

- Timely and ambitious implementation of the Clean Energy Package will be the foundation for success.

- Carbon should be given a meaningful and impactful price so that it creates the right market signal for carbon reduction.

- Europe needs to urgently align technology, financing and objectives: this means that the EU’s climate ambitions need to be mainstreamed throughout the EU budget, the newly announced green financing strategy, and existing and new funds for innovation, just transition, investment and development. 

Other tools for success in our view include making energy taxation reflect carbon content, building strong acceptance with all stakeholders and embracing the opportunities of digitalisation for the climate, clean energy and circular economy transitions: from energy management and water management, to sustainable buildings, smart grids or digitally enabled sustainable transport technologies – all have a role to play in the twin climate and digital transition. 

Other tools for success in our view i...

As global challenges require global responses, the EU rightly focuses on leading international negotiations to increase the level of ambition regarding climate neutrality among other emitters. Action at forums such as COP25 will be critical to lay the foundations for building consensus and partnership, and in particular to achieve a cooperative approach on aligning the various emission trading schemes to strive for global carbon price convergence.

Orgalim’s latest position paper takes an in-depth look at what’s needed to make the climate transition an industrial opportunity for a clean planet for all. Across 13 key areas, we evaluate the state-of-play and make concrete recommendations for the way forward. Read it here.

Photo: Etienne Ansotte / Source: EC - Audiovisual Service