The European Green Deal: an ambitious roadmap that needs to be rapidly followed by clear legislation

Responding to the European Green Deal unveiled today by new Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, Nick Molho, Executive Director of the Aldersgate Group, said “As a cross-economy organisation with business members eager to invest in the EU’s climate resilient and low carbon infrastructure, we welcome today’s European Green Deal. Launching a flagship policy on climate change and environmental standards on the 11th day of the new Commission sends a powerful signal to the business community about the EU’s intention to transition to a net zero emissions economy. However, the Commission and other EU institutions now need to rapidly legislate for a net zero emissions target and an intermediate 2030 target to halve current EU emissions. These institutions should also ensure that the governance arrangements and policy goals for the Green Deal are mainstreamed across all areas of EU and member states’ policy decision making.”

Nick Molho added: “For the European Green Deal to be effective, it will need to be supplemented by ambitious near-term measures to accelerate emission cuts in the buildings, transport and energy sectors, as well as greening the financial system. These near-term priorities must be urgently accompanied by an ambitious EU-wide innovation programme to test critical solutions like carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and new land use management techniques. These will be key to cutting emissions in hard to treat sectors, such as heavy industry, and long-distance transport. Lastly, the EU institutions need to think ambitiously about a strategy on agriculture which ensures that the European Green Deal principles are placed at the heart of the Common Agricultural Policy.”