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Delivering the European Green Deal

Transforming our economy and societies

The European Green Deal set the blueprint for this transformational change.

All 27 EU Member States committed to turning the EU into the first climate neutral continent by 2050. To get there, they pledged to reduce emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. 

This will create new opportunities for innovation and investment and jobs, as well as:

electric car

reduce emissions

worker

create jobs and growth

House

address energy poverty

wind farm

reduce external energy dependency

runner

improve our health and wellbeing

At the same time, it will ensure there are opportunities for everyone, supporting vulnerable citizens by tackling inequality and energy poverty, and strengthening the competitiveness of European companies.

Making transport sustainable for all

transport

The European Commission proposes more ambitious targets for reducing the CO2 emissions of new cars and vans.

55%
reduction of emissions from cars by 2030
50%
reduction of emissions from vans by 2030
0
emissions from new cars by 2035

The Commission also promotes the growth of the market for zero- and low- emissions vehicles. In particular, it seeks to ensure that citizens have the infrastructure they need to charge these vehicles, for short and long journeys.

In addition, from 2026, road transport will be covered by emissions trading, putting a price on pollution, stimulating cleaner fuel use, and re-investing in clean technologies.

The Commission is also proposing carbon pricing for the aviation sector, which benefited from an exception until now. It is also proposing to promote sustainable aviation fuels – with an obligation for planes to take on sustainable blended fuels for all departures from EU airports.

To ensure a fair contribution from the maritime sector to the effort to decarbonise our economy, the Commission proposes to extend carbon pricing to this sector. The Commission will also set targets for major ports to serve vessels with onshore power, reducing the use of polluting fuels that also harm local air quality.

Leading the third industrial revolution

industry

These new proposals will have an impact across entire value chains in sectors such as energy and transport, and construction and renovation, helping create sustainable, local and well-paid jobs across Europe.

by
2030
35 million
buildings could be renovated
160,000
additional green jobs could be created in the construction sector

The electrification of the economy and the greater use of renewable energy are expected to generate higher employment in these sectors. Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings will also create jobs in construction, with local labour in higher demand.

We want to preserve our climate ambition by avoiding that efforts by our industry to cut emissions are undermined by unfair competition from abroad.

Therefore, the Commission proposes a mechanism to ensure that, even when they are from countries with less strict climate rules, companies importing into the EU have to pay a carbon price as well.

Cleaning our energy system

energy

The Commission proposes to increase the binding target of renewable sources in the EU’s energy mix to 40%. The proposals promote the uptake of renewable fuels, such as hydrogen in industry and transport, with additional targets.

In addition, reducing energy consumption is essential to bring down both emissions and energy costs for consumers and industry. The Commission proposes to increase energy efficiency targets at EU level and make them binding, to achieve by 2030 an overall reduction of 36-39% for final and primary energy consumption.

40%
new renewable energy target for 2030
36-39%
new 2030 energy efficiency targets for final and primary energy consumption

The tax system for energy products must also support the green transition by giving the right incentives. The Commission proposes to align the minimum tax rates for heating and transport with our climate objectives, while mitigating the social impact and supporting vulnerable citizens.

Renovating buildings for greener lifestyles

buildings

The new Social Climate Fund will support EU citizens most affected or at risk of energy or mobility poverty. It will help mitigate the costs for those most exposed to changes, to ensure that the transition is fair and leaves no one behind.

It will provide EUR 72.2 billion over 7 years in funding for renovation of buildings, access to zero and low emission mobility, or even income support.

In addition to homes, public buildings must also be renovated to use more renewable energy, and to be more energy efficient.

The Commission proposes to:

  • require Member States to renovate at least 3% of the total floor area of all public buildings annually
  • set a benchmark of 49% of renewables in buildings by 2030
  • require Member States to increase the use of renewable energy in heating and cooling by +1.1 percentage points each year, until 2030

Working with nature to protect our planet and health

nature

Restoring nature and enabling biodiversity to thrive again offers a quick and cheap solution to absorb and store carbon.

The Commission proposes therefore to restore Europe’s forests, soils, wetlands and peatlands. This will increase absorption of CO2 and will make our environment more resilient to climate change.

A circular and sustainable management of these resources will

  • improve our living conditions
  • maintain a healthy environment
  • create quality jobs
  • provide sustainable energy resources

New targets for natural carbon removals:

-225 Mt
old target
-268 Mt
current carbon removals
-310 Mt
new target

Bioenergy contributes to the phase-out of fossil fuels and the decarbonisation of the EU economy. But it must be used sustainably. The Commission proposes strict new criteria to avoid unsustainable forest harvesting and to protect areas of high-biodiversity value.

Boosting global climate action

global action

The European Green Deal has already set a positive example and led major international partners to set their own target dates for climate neutrality.

With investment in renewable energy technologies, we are developing expertise and products that will also benefit the rest of the world.

With the shift to green transport, we will create world leading companies which can serve a growing global market. By working with our international partners, we will reduce emissions together in maritime transport and aviation around the world.

The EU will share these proposals and ideas with its international partners at the UN’s COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November.

30%
of the EU's Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument supports climate objectives
1/3
of the world's public climate finance comes from the EU and its Member States

Key steps

  1. December 2019

    Commission presents European Green Deal, committing to climate neutrality by 2050

  2. March 2020

    Commission proposes European Climate Law to write 2050 climate neutrality target into binding legislation

  3. September 2020

    Commission proposes new EU target to reduce net emissions by at least 55% by 2030, and add it to the European Climate Law

  4. December 2020

    European leaders endorse Commission’s proposed target to reduce net emissions by at least 55% by 2030

  5. April 2021

    Political agreement reached on European Climate Law by European Parliament and Member States

  6. June 2021

    European Climate Law enters into force

  7. July 2021

    Commission presents package of proposals to transform our economy, to reach our 2030 climate targets. European Parliament and Member States to negotiate and adopt package of legislation on reaching our 2030 climate targets

  8. October 2022

    The Council and the European Parliament reach a provisional political agreement on stricter CO2 emission performance standards for new cars and vans

  9. 2030

    EU to deliver a reduction of emissions of at least 55% compared to 1990 levels

  10. 2050

    EU to become climate neutral

Documents

14 JULY 2021
Communication: 'Fit for 55' - delivering the EU's 2030 climate target on the way to climate neutrality
English
(177.97 KB - HTML)
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14 JULY 2021
Revision of the Regulation on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry
English
(608.62 KB - HTML)
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14 JULY 2021
Effort Sharing Regulation
English
(376.13 KB - HTML)
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14 JULY 2021
Amendment to the Renewable Energy Directive to implement the ambition of the new 2030 climate target
English
(418.27 KB - HTML)
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14 JULY 2021
Proposal for a Directive on energy efficiency (recast)
English
(1.05 MB - HTML)
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14 JULY 2021
Revision of the EU Emission Trading System for Aviation
English
(218.62 KB - HTML)
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14 JULY 2021
ReFuelEU Aviation – sustainable aviation fuels
English
(240.24 KB - HTML)
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14 JULY 2021
FuelEU Maritime – green European maritime space
English
(390.68 KB - HTML)
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14 JULY 2021
Revision of the Directive on deployment of the alternative fuels infrastructure
English
(396.67 KB - HTML)
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14 JULY 2021
Strategic rollout plan to support rapid deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure
English
(235.18 KB - HTML)
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14 JULY 2021
Amendment of the Regulation setting CO2 emission standards for cars and vans
English
(393.07 KB - HTML)
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14 JULY 2021
Carbon border adjustment mechanism
English
(486.78 KB - HTML)
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14 JULY 2021
Revision of the Energy Tax Directive
English
(567.42 KB - HTML)
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14 JULY 2021
Revision of the EU Emission Trading System
English
(13.25 MB - PDF)
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14 JULY 2021
Notification on the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)
English
(155.09 KB - HTML)
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14 JULY 2021
Revision of the Market Stability Reserve
English
(176.05 KB - HTML)
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14 JULY 2021
Social Climate Fund
English
(496.61 KB - HTML)
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16 JULY 2021
Communication: New EU Forest Strategy for 2030
English
(289.3 KB - HTML)
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