The Green Deal Act together
If we don’t all work together for our planet, the climate protection agreement will be just another declaration of intent. The interim goal is to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Its a lot to do!
Photo: Thaut Images-AdobeStock
Is that still allowed?
Not really!
The Paris climate protection agreement was signed on December 12, 2015 at the UN climate protection conference (COP 21) by all contracting parties of the UNFCCC (195 states and the European Union).
The agreement came into force on November 4th, 2016 after 55 countries, which also cause at least 55% of the emissions, had completed the ratification. It envisages limiting man-made global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.
The targets result in a fixed CO₂ budget of a maximum of 400 billion tons of carbon dioxide that may still be emitted. This means that the peak of CO₂ emissions must be reached as quickly as possible so that the curve is as flat as possible and the point in time until the necessary achievement of net zero emissions is as late as possible. In other words, the longer we carry on business as usual, the faster and more abruptly net-zero emissions will have to be achieved.
The European Green Deal
The European Green Deal is based on a communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of December 11th, 2019. COM/2019/640 final
The interim goal is to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
By 2050, the transition to a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy should be completed,
- which no longer emits net greenhouse gases
- decouples their growth from resource use,
- leaves no one, neither people nor regions, in the lurch.
The European Green Deal should also lead out of the Corona crisis: A third of the investments from the NextGenerationEU development package and the seven-year budget of the EU with a total volume of EUR 1.8 trillion should flow into the Green Deal.
Funding is provided through the following programs:
Interesting facts about the EU climate pact
The European climate law
The European Climate Law became Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No. 401/2009 and (EU) 2018 /1999 (“European Climate Law”).
With the European climate law, the goal formulated in the European Green Deal of making the European economy and society climate-neutral by 2050 is enshrined in law. The law also sets an interim target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
The law aims to ensure that all EU policies contribute to achieving this goal and that all sectors of the economy and society do their part. It creates a system to monitor progress and take further action if necessary, provides predictability for investors and other economic actors, and ensures that the transition to climate neutrality is irreversible.
The Circular Economy Action Plan
The circular economy action plan is based on a communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions dated March 11, 2020. A new circular economy action plan. For a cleaner and more competitive Europe. COM/2020/98 final
The goal is sustainable products that have a longer lifespan, are easier to reuse, repair and recycle, and contain as much recycled content as possible as primary raw materials. Consumers should have a right to repairs. The action plan contains 35 actions and focuses on brownfields that use the most resources and have high potential for recycling:
- Electronics and ICT
- batteries and vehicles
- packagings
- plastics
- textiles
- Construction and Building
- Food
Another focus is to eliminate waste altogether and turn it into high-value secondary resources that benefit from a well-functioning secondary raw materials market.
The European climate pact
Part of the European Green Deal is the European climate pact, which the European Commission launched on December 9th, 2020. The Pact is an EU-wide initiative that enables people, communities and organizations to get involved in climate action and building a greener Europe.
European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans, responsible for the European Green Deal, said:
“The European climate pact will unite everyone who wants to do something for our planet. With the Pact we want to give all people in Europe the opportunity to become active and act at their respective levels, to participate in the green transition and to inspire one another. When it comes to fighting climate change, everyone can contribute and make a difference.”
EU Climate Pact Ambassador
The climate pact ambassadors are also part of the European climate pact. she
- establish contact with people and/or organizations that are not yet involved in climate protection.
- inform, inspire and support climate action in their communities and networks.
- set a good example in climate and environmental protection measures.
- build a bridge between civil society, stakeholders and the European Commission.
The function of ambassadors is recognized by the European Commission. Your climate protection measures are given visibility. You will receive communication material and access to the network of ambassadors. More about the tasks and the application here
Conclusion
Closing material cycles is the key to achieving the goals of the Paris climate protection agreement and counteracting climate change. What was disposed of as waste yesterday is the raw material of the future. This also and especially applies to the residues of agricultural production.
Let's solve the problems together!
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