The EU Green Deal – A Plan for a Sustainable and Competitive Europe
With the "European Green Deal" the European Commission has put climate protection, ecology and sustainability at the centre of its political agenda. Through this ambitious plan, the EU is to become the global leader in the fight for climate neutrality by 2050. However, the challenges are enormous. The European economy is set to undergo a major transformation.
Significance and challenges of a European mobility strategy
The European Green Deal includes a target to reduce transport-related greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2050. The BDI welcomes a comprehensive European strategy for intelligent and sustainable mobility that addresses all modes of transport and their advantages. The transport sector is the backbone of the entire single market. A strategy needs to be practical and feasible.
The European emission trading system has proved to be a constructive climate protection instrument for a number of industrial sectors. The inclusion of maritime transport in the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is extremely critical, as there is a risk of distortion of competition. In order to avoid carbon leakage and maintain a level playing field in international maritime transport, the BDI favours international approaches.
First global climate protection instrument for aviation in the starting blocks
At the 39th General Assembly of the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in the fall of 2016, the member states agreed on a global climate protection instrument for the aviation sector. The launch is planned for 2021. For the competitiveness of European airlines, the global approach is preferable to a national or European solo effort.
Effective instruments for climate protection in air traffic
Air traffic is not only of outstanding economic importance, but also has a high level of responsibility in terms of climate policy. The BDI is in favour of effective climate protection instruments without placing an additional burden on air traffic and, therefore, rejects the introduction of additional financial burden such as a kerosene tax to achieve climate policy goals.
The EU's new climate target: Moon Shot or Mission Impossible?
At the beginning of October 2020, the EU environment ministers held an informal meeting to discuss raising the European climate target for 2030. No final agreement could yet be reached. The new target is to be set out in the European climate law. What this means for individual Member States is still unclear. What is certain, however, is that the new target will be extremely demanding, and that success is by no means guaranteed.
Framework and financing of climate neutrality by 2050
With the Green Deal, the EU Commission aims for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. The financing of private and public investments in climate and environmental protection requires massive investments in a wide range of sectors and trillions of euro are needed. How can the ambitious goals be financed? There are several approaches.
