THE GREEN DEAL – can we hope for real change?

We define the Green Deal as all ideas, inventions and actions with the leading and monumental goal of achieving climate neutrality across Europe by 2050.

The overarching goal of the Green Deal is to rebuild the economy to reduce Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050 at the latest. The goal of climate neutrality has been endorsed by the Parliament and the European Council and is to be enshrined as legally binding in the European Climate Law, a new regulation currently in the legislative pipeline.

The first step towards climate neutrality under the Green Deal is to be an increase in the EU’s commitment to reduce emissions from the current 40% to 50 or 55%. A decision on this is to be taken in the autumn, and will entail an increase in other targets relating to the share of renewable energy sources and limiting the growth rate of energy demand, as well as the introduction of stricter regulations concerning emissions from the industrial, transport and agricultural sectors and a radical reduction in energy consumption in buildings, which is to be achieved through the Green Deal’s flagship initiative, the so-called “renovation wave”.

“RENOVATION WAVE” is the European Commission’s strategy to improve air quality. Its priorities are tackling the energy poverty of the worst performing buildings, renovating public buildings (i.e. schools, hospitals, administrative buildings, etc.), and decarbonising heating and cooling. 

Due to human activity, the earth’s ecosystem is in an indescribable crisis. Already now, we are witnessing radical climate change, which is becoming troublesome and difficult for normal functioning on our planet. Moreover, environmental degradation is leading to the irreversible extinction of some animal species, e.g. today the Great Panda, which lives in China, is particularly endangered.

The Farm-to-Fork Strategy is part of the Green Deal, it aims to contribute to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. It comprehensively addresses the challenges associated with sustainable food systems and emphasizes the importance of the links between human health, community health and planetary health.

The strategy aims – above all – to reduce the use of pesticides, antibiotics and fertilizers and to increase the share of organic farming. The implementation of these assumptions will require multiple technological applications, mainly of an investment nature, requiring extensive transfer of new knowledge and, above all, high adaptation costs.

It is a great plus for our future to invest in plant-based diets, as doing so can spare animals suffering.