In the coming decade, the EU will continue building on a strong track record of climate action and parallel economic growth. Effectively addressing the economic crisis while reaping the gains from accelerating the shift to a clean and sustainable economy requires that these ambitions are also fully transcribed in Member States’ Recovery and Resilience Plans. Next Generation EU and the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027, with their combined weight of over 1.8 trillion euros, provide significant firepower to help deliver the twin green and digital transitions that Europe aspires to. The unprecedented European economic response to COVID-19 offers a unique opportunity to accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral economy investing in the necessary transformation and ensure it takes place in a just and socially fair manner. The long-term economic disruptions and adverse social consequences resulting from inaction would far outweigh the costs of investing in ambitious climate action today. If left unchecked, the unfolding climate crisis will have existential consequences for our natural environment, our health, and our livelihoods way beyond the scale of the current health crisis. Postponing climate action or rolling back measures is not an option for the European Union. This requires urgent attention, but our efforts to tackle one crisis must not hasten or worsen another. The world is currently experiencing a health crisis with an unprecedented socio-economic impact. Today, the Commission sets our continent on a sustainable path to make this a reality and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. We need to protect, conserve and enhance the EU's natural capital, and protect the health and well-being of citizens from climate- and environment-related risks and impacts and ensure an inclusive transformation based on a just transition so as to leave no one behind. The President of the Commission has made the European Green Deal 1 the top political priority, with the aim of transforming the EU into a fair and prosperous society with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy. The EU leads the global fight against climate change and the Commission is determined that the EU takes further action now. Nine out of ten see climate change as a serious concern. EU citizens are increasingly, and rightly, worried. The recent reports of the IPCC on climate change and 1.5☌ global warming, land, ocean and cryosphere underlined the dire impacts if climate change would not be halted. We must take urgent and sustained action to preserve the health, prosperity, and well-being of people in Europe and all over the world. The impacts of global warming are beyond dispute, with droughts, storms, and other weather extremes on the rise.
Global average temperature increased by 1.1☌ above pre-industrial levels by 2019. The past five years were the warmest on record. The climate crisis remains the defining challenge of our time.
Addressing the Climate crisis with increased resolve
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