European Green Deal must be central to a
resilient recovery after Covid-19
Published
on 09/04/2020, 6:33pm
Comment: We must not lose sight of the persisting
climate and ecological crisis when working out how to spur the economy after
the coronavirus pandemic
By 13
European climate and environment ministers
The world
is facing an unprecedented crisis. In just a few weeks, the Covid-19 pandemic
has swept across the world and caused tremendous human tragedy and a historical
economic setback of which we still do not know the full impact.
Our
societies have shut down, borders are closed, unemployment is on the rise and
companies are struggling.
The focus
is presently on fighting the pandemic and its immediate consequences.
We should,
however, begin to prepare ourselves to
rebuild our economy and to introduce the necessary recovery plans to bring
renewed, sustainable progress and prosperity back to Europe and its citizens.
While doing
so, we must not lose sight of the persisting climate and ecological crisis.
Building momentum to fight this battle has to stay high on the political
agenda.
The lesson
from the Covid-19 crisis is that early action is essential. Therefore, we need
to maintain ambition in order to mitigate the risks and costs of inaction from
climate change and biodiversity losses.
We cannot
afford setbacks that can have detrimental effects on our climate, biodiversity
and environment as well as on human health and our economies.
These
crises have reminded us that answers need to be found in a concerted manner
through a common European response.
The EU’s
capacity to act depends largely on our ability to work together in solidarity
to build the bridge between fighting Covid-19, biodiversity loss and climate
change.
Chile to
peak emissions by 2025, under strengthened climate pledge
We
therefore strongly welcome that the Heads of States and Governments on 26 March
invited the Commission to start working on a comprehensive EU recovery plan
integrating the green transition and digital transformation.
We call on
the Commission to use the European Green Deal as a framework for this exercise
and thereby to keep momentum by implementing its initiatives.
The Green
Deal constitutes a new growth strategy for the EU, which is able to deliver on
the twin benefits of stimulating economies and creating jobs while accelerating
the green transition in a cost efficient way.
For
example, the objective of climate neutrality by 2050 as well as a strong policy
framework ensures a stable and forward-looking investment environment for
Europe’s businesses, which is an essential precondition for green growth and
job creation.
In
addition, we encourage the Commission to look into elements of the Green Deal,
including the European Green Deal Investment Plan, which can be pushed forward
to boost green recovery and a just transition.
We need to
scale up investments, notably in the fields of sustainable mobility, renewable
energy, building renovations, research and innovation, the recovery of
biodiversity and the circular economy.
The Green
Deal provides us with a roadmap to make the right choices in responding to the
economic crisis while transforming Europe into a sustainable and climate
neutral economy.
We should
withstand the temptations of short-term solutions in response to the present
crisis that risk locking the EU in a fossil fuel economy for decades to come.
Instead, we
must remain resolved to increase the EU’s 2030 target before the end of this
year adhering to the timetable of the Paris agreement despite the postponement
of Cop26, and inspire other global players to raise their ambition as well.
In that
light we are pleased that the Commission is on track to present by September
2020 an impact assessed plan to raise the EU’s 2030 ambitions and cut
greenhouse gas emissions by 50-55% compared to 1990 levels.
Governments
still due to submit tougher climate plans in 2020, despite Cop26 delay
Furthermore,
we need to maintain and strengthen EU’s effective regulatory tools such as the
Emissions Trading Scheme, environment standards and sectoral policies, and make
them more effective at reducing emissions in the most cost effective way while
providing a path for European businesses into the future green and circular
economy.
We need to
send a strong political signal to the world and our citizens that the EU will
lead by example even in difficult times like the present and blaze the trail to
climate neutrality and the fulfilment of the Paris Agreement.
In the same
vein, urgent action to protect and conserve biodiversity must be a key part of
our response to the global health and environmental crisis and a key aspect to
ensure the long-term survival and well-being of our societies.
Leonore
Gewessler Federal Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility,
Innovation and Technology of Austria
Dan
Jørgensen Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities of Denmark
Krista
Mikkonen Minister of the Environment and Climate Change of Finland
Sergio
Costa Minister of Environment, Land and Sea of Italy
Juris Pūce
Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic
of Latvia
Carole
Dieschbourg Minister for the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development
of Luxembourg
Eric Wiebes
Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy of the Netherlands
João Pedro Soeiro
de Matos Fernandes Minister for Environment and Climate Action of Portugal
Teresa
Ribera Rodríguez Fourth Vice-President of the Government and Minister for the
Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge of Spain
Isabella
Lövin Minister for Environment and Climate, and Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden
Élisabeth
Borne Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition of France
Svenja
Schulze, Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear
Safety of Germany
Kostas
Hatzidakis, Minister of Environment and Energy, Greece
Updated on
11/04/20 to add Germany and Greece as signatories and on 10/04/20 to add France
(contact ad@climatehomenews.com)
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