Sustainability
Our fight for a sustainable future
We all know that climate change is no longer a future threat. Citizens and businesses all over Europe can feel the real effects of global warming today. Tackling climate change is a necessity, and Renew Europe has been at the forefront of Europe’s efforts in that direction, taking historic and ambitious steps towards becoming the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The green transition is an opportunity for a greener, healthier, and more prosperous future.
4.1 The green deal
The green deal: a landmark law package to become climate neutral by 2050
Renew Europe has played a leading role in raising the European Union´s ambitions to reach climate neutrality by 2050. We took bold steps to avoid dangerous climate change, whilst ensuring our ambitions are translated into green growth opportunities. Our goal is to create a more sustainable, healthy and prosperous future for both our citizens and our businesses.
4.2 Cutting emissions
Cutting our emissions to create green growth
Cutting down on our emissions is necessary to fight the effects of climate change and limit global warming. Renew Europe strongly felt the responsibility to deliver on the Paris Agreement ambitions and take concrete steps to cut Europe’s CO2 emissions. We successfully raised the reduction target and completed the entire Fit for 55 package.
In 2015, the binding international treaty on climate change adopted by the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, set the target to limit global warming to below 2 degrees and pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees. To reach this goal and keep our planet livable, it was time to increase our climate ambition and cut emissions drastically. This is why we pushed to set a new 2030 target of at least 55% emissions reductions in the European Climate Law. To reach this target, and even go beyond it, a large package of EU laws have been adopted or updated. This package of laws is known as Fit for 55 and is part of the broader European Green Deal. Fit for 55 makes sure that all citizens, businesses, sectors and countries take responsibility to cut CO2 emissions and reach our emissions reduction target.
4.3 Regions driving transition
A just transition fund: putting regions at the heart of solutions to the climate crisis
The ambitions of the Green Deal will not be without economic and social consequences for Europe. The EU wants to keep everyone on board in the green transition by creating the Just Transition Fund.
The energy transition will force many companies to decarbonize their production methods, such as the automobile industry. Other activities, like coal mining, will cease to exist. For entire regions of Europe, this will have an effect, for example on job opportunities, which is naturally a source of concern for businesses and citizens.
4.4 Clean driving
Clean driving is the future
Any new car or van bought after 2035 will be free of emissions and by the same year. All new city busses will drive zero emission by 2030, thanks to the efforts of Renew Europe. A crucial step to reach climate neutrality by 2050.
As of 2035, all cars and vans rolling off the assembly line should meet the target of 100% zero- emissions. At the same time, new rules expected to be adopted in Spring 2024 will introduce new and stricter CO2 emission limits on trucks and buses. This transition to zero-emission mobility is expected to bring significant environmental benefits, including a notable improvement in air quality. At the same time, these new rules will ensure that affordable clean cars and heavy- duty vehicles likes trucks and busses are brought more swiftly to the market and a great win-win equally for trucks and vans.
4.5 Energy efficiency first
The cheapest energy is the energy that we don’t use
New efficiency targets will reduce the EU’s dependency on Russian gas and other fossil fuels, lower energy bills for citizens and our companies and contribute to the EU’s climate and energy goals. Money spent on energy efficiency is not a cost, but an investment into a more sustainable future.
Increasing energy efficiency and eliminating energy waste presents the most straightforward path to reducing emissions. Energy efficiency measures must be intensified to ensure that our economic growth is decoupled from emissions. Importantly, we must make sure to support our SMEs and industries in this process, who are the drivers behind our future green growth.
4.6 Future-ready energy system
A truly European future-proof energy system
To protect consumers and businesses from unpredictable energy prices and enhance the uptake of renewables, we paved the way for a more integrated and future-proof EU energy system.
The process of an increasingly integrated European electricity market began two decades ago, giving consumers a better price for their energy and ensuring security of supply. Then, the energy crisis caused by the covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s weaponisation of gas supply since its war on Ukraine, created the urgent need to revise EU rules governing the electricity markets. Europe needs a truly future-proof energy system that produces, stores and distributes energy more efficiently and across EU borders. Only such an efficient electricity system design, prepared for geopolitical shocks, will guarantee energy supply to European households, businesses and industry at affordable prices, while we reach Europe’s climate goals at the same time.
4.7 Green transport Europe
Europe’s transport will go green with an eu-wide charging network
We ensured the rollout of a vast network of charging stations for alternative fuels throughout Europe in the upcoming years. We are a step closer to clean driving, sailing and flying!
Electric driving is on the rise in Europe. With more than 55 million in 2030, the total share of electric cars is expected to be more than a fifth of the total European car fleet. In 2022 this was only 2%. To keep up with this explosive growth, a solid European charging station network is necessary.
4.8 Cleaner maritime transport
The way forward for a cleaner maritime transport
New EU rules will make transport by water more sustainable and create a healthier environment for EU citizens.
European ships, representing around 55% of the entire EU fleet, are responsible for 90% of CO2 emissions by the maritime sector. Moreover, around 98% of ships still run on fossil fuels. To reach our climate pollution reduction goals, the maritime sector needs to transform. This is why we created new rules that will give the entire sector a realistic yet ambitious trajectory to make the green transition for shipping a success, whilst supporting innovation and safeguarding European competitiveness.
4.9 Digitalisation for a greener future
Digitalisation, the road for decarbonisation
We make intelligent transport systems available, so that you can enjoy a drive whilst emitting less CO2!
The European Commission adopted a Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy that proposes a fundamental transformation of the European transport system to achieve the objective of sustainable, smart and resilient mobility. Mobility and transport are essential for European citizens and for the European economy as a whole. The free movement of people and goods across its internal borders is a fundamental freedom of the European Union and its single market.
4.10 Sustainable fuels, cleaner skies
Sustainable aviation fuels for cleaner skies
We ensured a progressive decrease of aviation emissions, by increasing the production and uplift of sustainable aviation fuels.
Aviation is the most difficult mode of transport to decarbonise. Unlike some other modes of transport that can leverage electrification for cleaner energy sources, aviation predominantly relies on kerosene, which emits substantial carbon emissions. By increasing the production and adoption of sustainable aviation fuels, the aviation sector can substantially reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.
4.11 Sustainability at your fingertips
Sustainable choices at the fingertips of citizens
With new European legislation on eco-design, citizens can be confident that products they buy are greener and more sustainable. By stimulating conscious product design, Renew Europe is realising its ambition to drive the transition towards a more circular economy. Europe has the skills, the knowledge and the innovation power to develop the technologies necessary to close loops and build a waste-free society.
4.12 Sustainable batteries
Sustainable batteries support the electrification of Europe
Access to sustainable batteries is a core condition for electrification and innovation as we leave fossil fuels behind. Europe has created rules for the entire batteries industry to take responsibility for its climate, environmental as well as human rights impacts.
Until a few years ago, it was practical to have metal batteries on hand to use a flashlight or to power the children’s remote control toy car. Today batteries play an increasingly more significant role in our daily lives. Not only our smartphones are powered by batteries, but freed from the hassle of power cables, batteries are widely used in home and garden equipment as well as lifesaving medical devices. Battery applications are also key to meeting our climate goals. By 2035, all new cars rolling off the assembly line will get their power exclusively from batteries.
As a result, we have an exponential need for powerful and reliable batteries. Estimates show that we will need 14 times more batteries by 2030. This brings new challenges as well as opportunities for a circular battery industry.
Agriculture & Fishery
Reducing pollution and restoring nature aligns with our ambition to create a sustainable food system.
