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THE EU COMMISSION has adopted ‘The European Green Deal’ which lays out plans to make Europe the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050.
This is one of the first actions taken by the new President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, whose panel of Commissioners was approved by MEPs last month.
The EU Green Deal will require “significant investment”, the Commission said today – the current 2030 climate targets cost around €260 billion of additional investment a year, representing about 1.5% of 2018 GDP.
At least 25% of the EU’s long-term budget should be dedicated to climate action.
A ‘just transition mechanism’ will support those regions that rely heavily on very carbon intensive activities, the Commission said, giving them access to reskilling programmes and employment opportunities in new sectors.
“Let’s start this endeavour together,” von der Leyen told the European Parliament, urging members to get behind her clean growth strategy.
“Some say the cost of this transition is too high, let us never forget what the cost of non-action would be. It is rising by the year.”
Billy Kelleher MEP / Twitter
Billy Kelleher MEP / Twitter / Twitter
She said that the European Green Deal “is our new growth strategy – for a growth that gives back more than it takes away”.
“We will help our economy to be a global leader by moving first and moving fast… By showing the rest of the world how to be sustainable and competitive, we can convince other countries to move with us.”
The European Green Deal aims to move to a “clean, circular economy and stop climate change, revert biodiversity loss and cut pollution”.
It outlines investments needed and covers all sectors of the economy – including transport, energy, agriculture, buildings, and industries such as steel, cement, ICT, textiles and chemicals.
In an information pack entitled ‘What if we don’t act?’ the European Commission gives the following list:
It also states that climate change could lead to a 20% food price rise in 2050.
What’s next then?
Work will immediately start for upping Europe’s 2030 emissions targets, setting a realistic path to the 2050 goal.
Other plans related to the Green Deal include: the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the new Industrial Strategy and Circular Economy Action Plan, the Farm to Fork Strategy for sustainable food and proposals for pollution-free Europe.
At least 25% of the EU’s long-term budget should be dedicated to climate action, the Commission said, adding that the European Investment Bank, Europe’s climate bank, will provide further support. For the private sector to contribute to financing the green transition, the Commission will present a Green Financing Strategy in 2020.
“Fighting climate change and environmental degradation is a common endeavour but not all regions and member states start from the same point.”
In March 2020, the Commission will launch a ‘Climate Pact’ to give citizens chance to weigh in on suggesting actions that can be taken, sharing information, launching grassroots activities and showcasing their solutions for others to follow.
The EU moto is ‘Unity in Diveristy’. Not much Unity if less than half the member states can decide the course of the Union.
I think you said it all there Ryan
People voted for this in the Lisbon Treaty. So they haven’t a leg to stand on now.
It is all very fucked though.
Ah the big boys are becoming worried ……
The Treaty is the stumbling block…
the Dow Jones and The Wall St Journal???….
It is all coming ot now.
Time to get out of the Euro.
Stand up to these Economic Terrorists.
Once again, Europe is not suffering from a “Democratic Deficit”; it is however, suffering from a Dictatorial Surplus.
Again we have the usual build up just in case a referendum is needed. Already I can see the “sky is falling” arguments that will come from those lesser gifted members of the public who sit in the Dáil. But they have already told us we won’t need another bailout so we can happily vote against this treaty if it goes to a referendum, isn’t that right boys?
Pull on your green jersey Mark! Pull it on I say!!
“orders must be obeyed at all times without question”!
Mercozy will get what they want one way or another….we don’t have any true politicians within the government to tell them to go fuck themselves.
By the time the treaty is agreed and signed chances are that Sarkozy won’t be the president of France anymore. The French presidential election takes place in April/May this year and he is trailing the socialist candidate François Hollande in all of the recent opinion polls by quite a distance. I don’t think Hollande will have the same approach to this problem that Sarkozy has so it could be interesting to see what happens if the gets elected.
Barring something strange Merkel has until September next year to stay in power but the smaller party in her coalition government is being hammered in the polls at the moment so who knows what might happen.
Yes I saw that last night on twitter and the fear factor will now be cranked into panic mode.
If we don’t sign they eu will not fund us that appears to be the mantra.
Well mr and mrs EU if that’s the case then you leave us no choice but to declare we are paying nobody else.
The E U would never allow that as the confusion and panic it would put the markets in would be massive.
However Mr and Mrs E U give us a 66% write down and I am sure we could persuade Market.
There is a massive assumption that we have to dance to a tune but let’s get some people to go on the offensive now by saying we will delay NOT default on next weeks payment of 1.25 million and see what trees that rattles.
We cannot just sit back and take this.
The E U would have more respect for us if we fought back.
Very true. We have gutless politicians with no backbone. So much for a EU of equals.
Sorry 1.25 billion
While Merkosy struggle to maintain a united front on how to proceed, division rather than concensus is growing at national level in the rest of Europe. Considerable arm twisting will, no doubt, be applied.
Only Ireland has a chance of a referendum and we must not be bullied into accepting this treaty. This crisis cannot become a vehicle for crushing democratic principles and leading to even more instability.
Petition attached for those who believe this decision is too important to be left to government.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/call-for-a-referendum-on-the-esm-treaty/
Finlands misgivings over Europes current direction.
http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-19/finland-derides-crisis-as-excuse-for-eroding-sovereignty.html
Draft treaty in full.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/9026142/The-EU-fiscal-draft-treaty-in-full.html
Let the scaremongering begin………We’ll go bust before next Christmas without it………….We’ll be kicked outta Europe………Merkel will eat your first born if we don’t sign. Please, save me the scare tactics.
Let’s scare them “ok guys we are declaring a default now fuck off to the insurers and get paid ”
It’s risky who stands to loose more e u system and world trade agreements or us?
Excellent Mark, couldn’t have said it better myself. However, prepare yourself for the inevitable bulls–t when they tell us they were taken “out of context” when they told us that lie.
A yes.The two teir europe is coming.Looks like those who dont sign up to this will be kicked to the kirb.
Which would mean we’d be away from the train wreck if we voted no to this thing, Can’t wait to see the majority No vote if there is a referendum I’d say it’ll be ultra-decisive.
Yep, proletariat, unite! Let’s build this utopia! The states that don’t want it are simply too stupid to think for themselves, so will will force onto them for their own good!
That first tweet doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.
The treaty can only come into force for countries that sign up for it. So it shouldn’t matter whether its 1 country, 5, 12 or 27 that sign it. The provision will only afffect those who agree to it.
For examply the UK has already said it won’t sign up for the treaty so therefore none of its rules will apply to the UK. The same would be true for any other country the didn’t sign up for it and a few of them are considering whether to do so or not.
The second tweet is fairly self-evident. If you want to avail of funds from the new mechanism then you agree to sign up to the rules that apply to it.
have your say