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Green dictionary · Green Deal

Green deal. What is it?

It does no harm to “dust off” a few basic concepts. In brief, we are talking about the green deal, that is, the European Union’s actions to combat climate change, which is one of the priorities from today through the coming years. Repetita iuvant

Green deal: what is it? The green deal refers to the solutions put in place by the European Union to combat climate change, which is one of the priorities from today through the coming years.

What are the objectives? The main objective is to limit global warming to below 2 °C.

If we think this is a remote prospect, we need only consider that 2023 was the hottest year in history to understand that the problem is actually much closer and more real than we might imagine. 2020 was already 0.6°C warmer than the standard 1981-2010 reference period and about 1.25°C warmer than the pre-industrial period (Copernicus data).
2022, meanwhile, is now officially the driest year in history.

Among the main objectives is certainly the reduction of greenhouse gases: in 2021 the EU set climate neutrality as its goal, that is, to have net zero emissions by 2050.
As can be seen from the EU’s own information, action will be needed particularly in certain sectors, such as:
Construction and agriculture

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For sectors such as construction or agriculture, the reductions will be implemented through national targets calculated on the basis of each country’s gross domestic product. As part of the ‘Fit for 55’ package, MEPs supported raising the emission reduction thresholds for these sectors from 29% to 40% by 2030. (verbatim from the European Parliament website).
Transport

As regards road transport, in June 2022 the EU backed the proposal aimed at achieving zero emissions for new cars and vans.

Until now, there were no EU requirements aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships. As proposed in the Fit for 55 package, maritime transport will be included in the reform of the EU’s ETS (Emission Trading Scheme).

In June 2022 Parliament voted in favour of a revision of the ETS for the aviation sector, including all scheduled flights departing from the European Economic Area. (verbatim from the European Parliament website)

Deforestation and land use

The EU also uses the absorption capacity of forests to combat climate change. In this regard, in June 2022, Parliament voted in favour of a reform of the rules governing deforestation and land use change (LULUCF). The aim is to optimise Europe’s carbon sinks and achieve an even greater reduction than the current target of 55% by 2030. (verbatim from the European Parliament website)

For further information, please refer to ‘Fit for 55’: delivering the EU’s 2030 Climate Target on the way to climate neutrality”

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