Climate & Environment

Climate-neutral by 2050: that is the goal of EU climate and environmental policy. Why does the EU want to achieve this climate and environmental target? Why does EU policy focus on climate and the environment? And above all, what climate and environmental policy is the European Union pursuing? Read all the news on EU climate and environmental policy from the Table Media editorial team. Why does EU policy focus on climate and the environment? One focus of EU policy is on the environment and climate. The environment refers to everything that surrounds people, especially nature. If something damages nature, sooner or later this will also have an impact on the living conditions of humans and ultimately on the planet. If this changes, it is not just one country that is affected by the consequences. For this reason, the topic of climate and its change is a particular focus within the policies of the 27 EU member states and is often used synonymously with the environment. To protect the environment and combat climate change, the EU member states have jointly set themselves the goal of being climate-neutral by 2050. What does EU climate policy involve? Definition of climate policy When we talk about EU environmental policy, this inevitably also means EU climate policy. It includes decisions and actions that have a direct or indirect influence on the climate and its development. It is not possible to protect the environment without dealing intensively with the climate and climate change, and although the climate is always changing, this process is currently taking place at an accelerated pace. The reason for this is the greenhouse gases caused by human activity. These are released into the atmosphere and form a layer there. Heat radiation cannot escape. If the amount of greenhouse gases increases, the temperature also rises and the increase in these gases, which create a greenhouse effect, has various causes. These include the burning of fossil fuels, which releases CO 2, or the release of methane gas through mass livestock farming. The cutting down of forests or the sealing of surfaces also has an influence on this development. Climate describes how frequently and probably certain weather phenomena occur in a certain area over a certain period of time. Humans, nature and animals are accustomed to the climate in which they find themselves. If it changes, this has an impact on biodiversity, i.e. the Earth's natural capital. The consequences of climate change Global warming is a global problem. Although the process cannot be prevented, it can be slowed down. As part of international climate policy, 196 countries and the European Union have committed to this goal. In the Paris Agreement of 2015, they decided to try to limit global warming to below 2°C. EU climate policy must be based on the defined climate targets, and the consequences of global warming include the melting of polar ice and glaciers as well as the expansion of water. Land masses that are currently close to sea level anyway will then be below it due to its rise. Extreme weather events are also becoming more frequent due to global warming, with heavy rain, extreme heat and natural disasters in the form of storms already on the increase. Rising sea levels in conjunction with storms can lead to an increase in flooding. Extreme heat in turn has an impact on agriculture, including food cultivation. Climate change therefore not only means a rise in temperature. A changed climate also forces plants and animals to adapt to new living conditions. If they fail to do so and have no opportunity to reorient themselves, they are threatened with extinction. The Paris Climate Agreement aims to mitigate these consequences, even if they cannot be prevented. The EU on the path to climate neutrality As part of environmental policy, EU climate policy does not deviate from its content. Nevertheless, it is important to take a separate look at climate protection. Important packages of measures deal explicitly with the effects on the climate. They are intended to support the climate targets by 2050, one such package of measures being the Green Deal presented in 2019. This is intended to support the EU member states in a faster transformation. Its aim is to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, with the climate target defined as reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the share of renewable energies and using energy more efficiently. With better energy efficiency, less energy is needed at the same time, which in turn leads to fewer harmful emissions. If the energy comes from renewable sources, this process is also sustainable, and the EU has already made adjustments. The 2030 climate targets include an increase in the share of renewable energy to at least 32% and an increase in energy efficiency of 32.5% compared to the reference year 1990. Previously, the target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions was 40%, but in September 2020, the European Commission proposed an increase in this climate target as part of the "Fit for 55" package of measures. With the entry into force of the European Climate Law in July 2021, a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050 is also legally enshrined as a target of the Green Deal. Germany's role in EU climate policy To implement the EU climate targets, Germany only passed a law in June 2021 that further tightens the EU targets at national level. It was decided that climate neutrality should be achieved in Germany by 2045 – five years earlier than in the EU. By 2030, greenhouse gases are therefore to be reduced by 65%, not just 55%, and Germany has also set itself the goal of not only preserving forests and moors, but also expanding them. Both are measures to offset emissions. In addition, eight billion euros have been made available for the coming years with the adoption of an immediate action program. These are to be invested in climate protection measures. What does EU environmental policy mean and include? Environmental policy framework As the environment in the form of nature plays such an important role in life and its condition has a significant impact on people's living conditions, environmental policy is a key element of EU policy, and measures adopted to protect the environment can take different forms from country to country. However, some areas are valid throughout Europe and can only be dealt with jointly. Threats to the environment do not take national borders into account and so these cannot play a role in protecting the common environment either.EU environmental policy is designed to protect not only the climate, but also the health of citizens and biodiversity. This also means that environmental considerations are also taken into account in other policy areas. Implementation of environmental policy measures To implement EU environmental policy, the member states develop joint environmental action programs (EAPs). These have formed the basis of the European Union's action in environmental matters since 1973. The seventh EAP came into force in 2014. Negotiations are currently underway for the eighth action program, which is intended to provide guidelines for the period up to 2030. in general, EU environmental policy is based on principles such as the precautionary principle. This stipulates that potential dangers to humans and nature should be stopped before they can cause damage. Such a potential danger can have its origin in political decisions and the resulting measures. However, mechanisms can also take effect if there are doubts about the safety of a product that prevent it from being launched on the market; if a hazard has already occurred, it is important to take action not only against its symptoms, but above all against its cause. This is where the polluter pays principle comes into play. In a nutshell, this means that potential damage to the environment must either be prevented by the polluter from the outset or, if it is too late, remedied by the polluter. These principles can be found in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. One example of how the polluter pays principle applies is the transportation of toxic materials. This must be secured in advance to such an extent that no leakage can occur during transportation. If this does happen and damage is caused to nature, the polluter must remedy the damage at their own expense. The path to achieving the goals Environmental policy The European Union has created guidelines for the purpose of achieving the 2050 vision. The aim of EU environmental policy is to enable a good life within the planet's available resources. Although this goal sounds abstract, it is linked to clear demands on the development of the EU, and the EU member states have agreed on milestones on the way to 2050 and climate neutrality. In addition to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and an increase in the proportion of renewable energies and energy efficiency, there are other environmental targets. In order to enable the good life, which takes place within the planet's resources and does not go beyond them, various topics are on the agenda, and despite all measures to slow down climate change, it is clear that it cannot be prevented. For this reason, strategies should be developed to adapt to the changing conditions and to protect ourselves from the risks posed by a changing climate, and it is not only human living conditions that are threatened by the consequences of environmental pollution. Biodiversity and thus the earth's natural capital are also suffering. For this reason, emissions should not only be reduced and nature better protected, but damage to ecosystems that has already occurred should also be reversed as far as possible. Transition to a circular economy through sustainable action To improve the situation, the economy and its processes must also change and treat the existing natural capital with care. The aim of EU climate and environmental policy is therefore to transition to a circular economy by using sustainable resources and recycling, i.e. returning them to the cycle. The aim is to make growth independent of harmful interventions in the environment and to reduce the impact of consumption on the climate and environment through sustainability. Sustainable action is thus also finding its way into the areas of energy, infrastructure including buildings and mobility, while cities are being planned more sustainably. But nutrition also plays a role in resource-conserving action. The purpose of all this is to prevent the consumption of more resources than are available, and the concept of emissions trading was introduced back in 1997 with the Kyoto Protocol to create an environment that is not under the constant influence of pollutants. The Kyoto Protocol was superseded by the Paris Agreement, but trading in emission rights still exists, the principle being that there is a fixed amount of emissions that may be emitted by the participating countries. This quantity is regularly reduced in order to also reduce the total emissions of pollutants in the long term. If a country produces fewer emissions than it is allowed to, it can sell the surplus emission allowances to another country; as a result, this trade should not cause the specified total quantity of emissions to be exceeded. At the same time, however, not all participants have to emit the same amount of emissions. The regular reduction of the permitted total quantity is intended to motivate people to reduce the quantity of pollutants in the long term. The zero-pollutant target is intended to protect the air, water and soil, as well as people. Germany's role in EU environmental policy The stricter targets for German climate policy set in June also mean a stricter environmental policy than that stipulated by European Union policy. As part of the energy transition towards a higher proportion of renewable energies, Germany is also planning to phase out nuclear power by 2022 and coal by 2038 at the latest, and has introduced the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) to promote the transition to renewable energies. Those who generate their own electricity are not only more independent, but also receive remuneration under the EEG.Germany also promotes energy-efficient building refurbishment and wants to support climate-friendly mobility. To this end, a modernization of rail transport and the expansion of local public transport are on the agenda. The plan for 2024 is to define the next steps in the reduction of emissions from 2030. From CO₂ and energy prices to supply chains and intergovernmental conflicts to taxonomies and the legal situation – the Table Media editorial team has all the latest news on EU climate and environmental policy.