European Green Deal
The European Green Deal is the roadmap for making the EU's economy sustainable, by turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities, and making the transition just and inclusive for all.
Recognising that climate change and environmental degradation are existential threats to Europe and the world, the EGD provides an ambitious package of measures, followed by EU Green Deal Action Plan. These measures include cutting greenhouse gas emissions, investing in cutting-edge research and innovation, and preserving Europe's natural environment.
Fighting climate change and achieving the transition to a climate-neutral society requires significant investments, research and innovation, new ways of producing and consuming, managing waste, and changes in how we work, use transport and live together.
Since solid waste, wastewater, water supply, energy efficiency, air pollution – all these things affect climate change, the EGD addresses environment (waste and recycling) among the key action areas also towards being climate neutral in 2050
Increasing EU’s Climate ambition for 2030 and 2050
Supplying Clean, affordable and secure energy
Mobilising industry for a clean and circular economy
Building and renovating in an energy and resource efficient way
A zero-pollution ambition for a toxic free environment
Preserving and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity
From “Farm to Fork” : a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system
Accelerating the shift to sustainable and smart mobility
The EU as a global leader
A European Climate Pact
The European Green Deal
Transforming EU’s economy for a sustainable future
Financing the Transition
Leave no one behind (Just Transition)
Sustainable Europe Investment Plan
Clean, affordable and secure energy – A clean energy transition
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 critical to reach our 2030 climate objectives and the EU’s long-term strategy of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/energy-and-green-deal_en
The European Green Deal focuses on 3 key principles for the clean energy transition, which will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the quality of life of our citizens:
Clean, affordable and secure energy – A clean energy transition
The Commission’s main objectives to achieve this are:
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/energy-and-green-deal_en
Global warming, in fact, is now an irrefutable phenomenon, as demonstrated by the increase in the average temperature of the air and oceans, the melting of glaciers and the rise in sea level and, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human activities represent one of the main causes of this warming which, since pre-industrial times, have contributed enormously to increasing the global level of emissions which from 1970 to 2010 increased by 80%
Why we should accelerate the shift to renewable energies?
Source: https://www.enea.it/it/seguici/le-parole-dellenergia/fonti-rinnovabili-scenari-e-politiche/perche-le-fonti-rinnovabili
As for the increase in the level of concentration in the atmosphere of CO2 alone - the main anthropogenic greenhouse gas - the main cause is the use of fossil fuels, which in 2010 generated over 60% of these emissions.
A reduction in emissions in the energy sector can only take place in three ways:
Why we should accelerate the shift to renewable energies?
Source: https://www.enea.it/it/seguici/le-parole-dellenergia/fonti-rinnovabili-scenari-e-politiche/perche-le-fonti-rinnovabili
Why renewable energies are so important?
17.5% of the EU’s gross final energy consumption came from renewable sources in 2017
Source: European Commission, Renewable energy progress report, April 2019
The European Commission will make proposals to increase the EU’s climate ambition for 2030
Relevant energy legislation will be reviewed and where necessary revised by June 2021. EU Member States will then update their national energy and climate plans in 2023, to reflect the new climate ambition
Source: Factsheet – Clean Energy, European Union, December 2019
Clean energy – an irreversible shift towards sustainability
In 2021, the European Union has seen an estimated 25.9 GW of new solar PV capacity connected to the grid, an increase of 34% over the 19.3 GW installed in 2020. This growth makes 2021 the best year in European solar history, breaking the decade-long record of 21.4 GW installed in the EU in 2011
How much of Europe's energy is renewable?
The share of renewable energy in energy consumption increased continuously between 2004 and 2019, from 9.6 % to 19.7 %. The Europe 2020 target is 20 % by 2020 and the Europe 2030 target is 32 % by 2030
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/infographs/energy/bloc-4c.html
Secure energy – the EU situation
Source: Martin Russell, “Energy security in the EU's external policy”, European Parliament Research Centre, March 2020
Reliable and affordable energy supplies are vital for the European economy, but EU countries do not have enough energy resources of their own to cover their needs. At present, nearly 90 % of the EU's oil needs and 70 % of gas have to be covered by imports. At present, nearly 40 % of imports come from a single supplier – Russia, a country that has difficult relations with the EU. Dependence on energy imports is the EU's main external vulnerability, weakening its position vis-à-vis supplier countries such as Russia
Secure energy – the EU situation
Source: Martin Russell, “Energy security in the EU's external policy”, European Parliament Research Centre, March 2020
EU action to mitigate energy insecurity has both internal and external dimensions. Internally, the EU promotes renewable energy and energy efficiency, and pushes for integrated European gas markets. Externally, energy is central to the EU's relations with third countries. The EU promotes a coordinated approach by its Member States to energy suppliers such as Russia. The picture is a mixed one, with positive and negative trends. On the one hand, the rise of renewable energy gives the EU an opportunity to develop its own sources of clean energy in the long term; on the other, falling domestic production of oil and gas means that in the short and medium term, Europe will be more than ever dependent on fossil fuel imports
How to produce clean and affordable energy at home or in your city?
There are small solar systems or wind generators on the market that make it possible to exploit the sun and the wind to produce electricity for domestic consumption. Producing energy at home is possible with a limited investment and the results are durable, both from the point of view of economic savings and reduction of pollution
Traditional sources of energy, such as oil and gas, are energy sources destined to end. It is from the combustion of gas and oil that the greatest damage to the environment and climate is caused. A wider diffusion of renewable sources is necessary: at home you can make a difference with the production of DIY electricity