The European Commission has adopted a long term strategy to make the European economy fully climate neutral by 2050.
The strategy will see EU Member States investing in technical solutions, encouraging citizens to contribute; and diverting action in key areas such as industrial policy, finance and research to ensuring Europe can be climate neutral by 2050.
Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, said: “The EU has already started the modernisation and transformation towards a climate neutral economy. And today, we are stepping up our efforts as we propose a strategy for Europe to become the world’s first major economy to go climate neutral by 2050. Going climate neutral is necessary, possible and in Europe’s interest. It is necessary to meet the long-term temperature goals of the Paris Agreement. It is possible with current technologies and those close to deployment. And it is in Europe’s interest to stop spending on fossil fuel imports and invest in meaningful improvements to the daily of all Europeans. No European, no region should be left behind. The EU will support those more impacted by this transition so that everyone’s ready to adapt to the new requirements of a climate neutral economy.”
A Eurobarometer survey conducted in November 2018 found that 93 per cent of Europeans believe in man-made climate change, while 85 per cent think European jobs and economic growth could be improved by devoting resources to fighting climate change. The Commission’s plan for Europe to be climate neutral by 2050 falls in line with the Paris Agreement, which commits signatories to work to keep the global temperature increase below 2°C.
The European Commission has invited European Council, the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee to consider its plan for Europe to be climate neutral by 2050. Member States will submit their national climate and energy plans, which will lay out nations’ individual strategies for meeting climate targets by 2030; the commission hopes these will form part of the greater long term EU climate strategy.
