the climate of the future
negative impact of Brexit for the European environment too. In certain areas such as climate change the UK is considered a leader in the EU and losing some of that ambition in the European Council - especially from such a large member state - may have implications for the future; the UK is also widely viewed as a strong proponent of science-based policy-making in technical areas such as pesticides and GMOs, which may become more politicised - possibly to the detriment of the environment, postBrexit.
Secondly, as a net contributor to the EU budget, the UK is also indirectly responsible for a great deal of funding dedicated to environmental protection. There is the environment-specific instrument known as “LIFE” which funds nature conservation, environmental and climate mitigation projects, but there are also environmental elements of the respective funding instruments of the Common Agricultural and Fisheries Policies too. With a funding shortfall, it is highly likely that some of these environmental projects and measures will see
funding reduced or even cut altogether. To conclude, nothing is certain, but there is much to be concerned about. It is absolutely vital that a good deal is reached between both parties to ensure continued cooperation, and to prevent the negative fallout of a bad deal overshadowing (or in the worst case completely sidelining) environmental priorities.
Role of CLIMA policy in shaping Europe’s future The EU played an instrumental role in shaping the Paris Agreement – the first-ever universal, legally binding climate change deal. Staying at the forefront of the global clean energy transition is an opportunity to strengthen the European economy and help build a more sustainable future for all. Jos Delbeke, Director General, European Commission’s DG CLIMA provides an update on EU strategy towards a lowcarbon future
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n Paris in December 2015, almost all countries of the world – including the EU and all its member countries – agreed on a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C. Now countries around the world are working on turning their Paris pledges into concrete policies and action on the ground. With its strong track record on climate action, Europe is well placed to contribute to this global transition and benefit from the opportunities it offers. From targets to policies The EU has already started implementing its commitment to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. Even before the Paris conference, the European Commission presented a proposal to strengthen the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) – the world’s largest carbon market and our principal tool for cutting greenhouse gas emissions – to ensure it delivers the reductions required as well as
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to promote investments in line with our longer term climate goals. Last year, this was followed by a proposal for setting binding emission reduction targets for each EU country for the sectors not covered by the emissions trading system, such as buildings, agriculture, transport and waste. Moreover, our climate targets are integrated into a wider set of policies that aim to make energy more secure, affordable and sustainable. Further policy proposals aimed for example at boosting low-emission mobility are in the pipeline for this year. Alongside action to cut emissions, and just as important, we are working to make Europe more resilient to the impacts of climate change. The EU adaptation strategy promotes action in key vulnerable sectors and in all relevant policies, and most EU countries have also developed national strategies. Innovation is key The EU experience shows that setting ambitious targets pays off – and that climate action goes hand in hand with economic growth. From 1990 to 2015, EU greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 22%, while our combined GDP grew by 50%. The number of green jobs in the EU has also increased
steadily even through the recession years. Going forward, we need to keep up and step up our efforts. It is clear that making the low-carbon shift a reality in all sectors of the economy will be a challenge. At the same time, it is also an opportunity to attract private investments to support growth and jobs and renew our energy infrastructure. For example, the Commission’s proposal for the revision of the EU ETS includes the creation of an Innovation Fund designed to support large-scale demonstration of activities in carbon capture and storage, innovative renewable energy and low-carbon innovation in energy-intensive industries. The Innovation Fund builds on the experience of the current NER 300 funding programme, which has awarded €2.1 billion to 39 innovative demonstration projects. These include for example a wind farm producing clean energy in Arctic conditions in northern Sweden and a plant turning agricultural waste into biogas in Germany. Another example of innovative funding instruments is the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), which is at the heart of the Investment Plan for Europe. By providing a guarantee to projects, the fund helps de-risk climate related investments. The fund was established for an initial