The European Green Deal

Green Deal Initiatives

To achieve this goal, the EU will intervene both in the industrial and energy sectors. In industry a top priority will be to finance eco-sustainable projects and
strengthen the recycling industry to reduce waste. To achieve these objectives, the Sustainable Investment Plan for Europe will be implemented,which foresees an annual investment of around 260 billion euros in eco-sustainable projects until 2030. As for the energy sector, the ultimate aim of the von der Leyen Commission will be to eliminate Europe's dependence on coal. These are not the only key points of the Green Deal, which will also include initiatives for biodiversity protection, reducing pollution in large cities, promoting environmentally-friendly modes of transport,and supporting sustainable agriculture and livestock farming.
As achieving climate neutrality is more challenging for some Member States than others, a mechanism for a fair transition has been introduced to provide financial support to regions that are more dependent on coal-derived energy. At least 55 billion EUR will be mobilized during the 2021-2027 period to support the transition to low-carbon technologies, improve energy efficiency,and invest in sustainable public transport, digital connectivity, and clean energy infrastructure. The Just Transition Fund (JTF)is the first pillar of this mechanism,with a total allocation of 17.5 billion EUR.

To achieve the energy transition and effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy savings and consumption reductions are just as important as the shift
to cleaner energy sources. In fact, using less energy will have positive effects on the environment, and energy savings,in terms of costs, is the most efficient solution for creating a more climate-friendly energy system.
In addition to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, citizens will benefit from more affordable energy prices and reduced dependence on fossil fuels.
In terms of efficiency, the target for final energy consumption is a decrease of -11.7% by 2030, according to forecasts made in 2020. However, following the new regulations adopted, this figure is expected to decrease further. Between 2024 and 2030, the EU must increase its energy savings, reaching an average of 1.49% of annual consumption, and by the end of 2030, this will rise to 1.9%. With the "Fit for 55" package, the EU aims to increase the share of renewable energy by 2030, surpassing the current target agreed upon in 2018. In 2022, the REPowerEU plan was introduced to address the difficulties and disruptions in the global energy market caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The plan aims to end the EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuels and promote renewable energy, including accelerating the approval process for renewable energy projects.

Why promote renewable energy?

Renewable energy emits less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels and is generated from abundant, free natural resources. For this reason, there are various types of renewable energy:
wind energy, solar energy, hydroelectric energy, tidal energy, geothermal energy, heat pumps, biofuels, and the renewable part of waste. Increasing the share of renewable energy used in the EU is crucial for:

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector, which currently accounts for 75% of all EU emissions.
• Providing an alternative to fossil fuel imports, especially from Russia.

In addition, renewable energy improves air quality and human health.
Since 2005, the gradual replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy across the EU has led to (data from 2017):

• A 7% decrease in sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions.
• A 1% decrease in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.