Friday 11th December 2020
EU tightened climate target
Business sees the green economy as an opportunity
From Oliver Scheel
Europe has formulated a much more ambitious climate target for 2030. The tightening is intended to help implement the Paris climate agreement and curb dangerous global warming. The economy stands behind this goal. Millions of "green" jobs could be created.
The United Nations report on Wednesday was once again shocking: the world is heading towards global warming of three degrees by the end of the century. Such a climate change would no longer have controllable consequences for mankind and countless animal and plant species. However, with some effort, the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement could still be achieved, it said.
The European Union has taken the lead and, at its meeting in Brussels, decided to reduce emissions by 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. So far, the target has been minus 40 percent. It is an important step towards the European Green Deal, which EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced exactly a year ago. With the Green Deal, the "green" change to a sustainable EU economy should succeed. The tightening is intended to help implement the Paris climate agreement and curb dangerous global warming.
EU takes on a pioneering role in climate protection
Review: Five years ago, history was made in Paris at the international climate conference. The world celebrated the Paris Climate Agreement, on which for the first time all states undertook to protect the climate. The agreement provides for global warming to be limited to 1.5 or well below two degrees. Now it is – as it is provided in the contract – to improve. The meeting in Brussels was the last chance to do so. With the agreement to reduce CO2 emissions significantly more by 2030, the EU is now taking on a pioneering role when it comes to climate protection.
A lot has already happened, a lot has been pushed. For example, coal-fired power generation is declining worldwide. Coal is the dirtiest of all forms of energy. The election victory of Joe Biden as the new US president and the associated announcement by the US to return to the climate agreement gave the movement a new dynamic. Countries like China, Japan, South Africa, South Korea and Canada, like the EU, have committed themselves to climate neutrality by 2050 and countless companies no longer see climate protection as a brake on growth.
Economy convinced of green economy
On the contrary: More than 200 companies and investors across Europe are behind the 55 percent target. These include global players such as Microsoft, IKEA, H&M, Google and Apple. Regions and cities have also committed themselves to this goal. Because: A green economy can become a huge economic factor. In the coming decade, 35 million new jobs could be created in this sector, as the management consultancy SYSTEMIQ has calculated.
Also positive: By 2030, 70 percent of current emissions in industry, transport and agriculture could be replaced by low and zero emission technologies. At the moment it's only about 25 percent.
The German economy is therefore confident. She was behind the reduction plans even before the EU climate decision was reached: "Climate neutrality made in Europe as a new seal of quality for an innovation and growth strategy in global competition: a large part of the German economy wants to seize this opportunity," said Michael Otto, President of the "2 Grad Foundation "and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Otto Group.
And Lidia Wojtal from the Agora Energiewende think tank affirmed: "There is no question that the implementation of the European Green Deal will continue – regardless of what the outcome of this European Council will be. The plan is in place, and the majority of member states are determined to join the Implementation and thus prepare the ground for a green and robust reconstruction. "
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