The "Green Deal for Europe" is the central programmatic commitment of the new President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, before the European Council. The proposed deal recognizes that climate change and environmental degradation are a threat to Europe and the world and highlights the need for a healthy planet as our greatest challenge and obligation. To address the challenge, the new President has proposed a new development strategy that aspires to turn the Union into a modern, cost-effective and competitive economy:
• with zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
• where economic growth will be disconnected from the use of resources
• and where no man and no region will be left on the sidelines
The European Green Deal aims to be the Roadmap for achieving the goal of a sustainable economy in the Union. It seeks to turn climate and environmental challenges into opportunities for all policy sectors and to achieve a fair transition for all, without exclusion.
The Roadmap includes actions that will:
• enhance the efficient use of resources by transitioning to a clean, circular economy, and
• restore biodiversity and reduce pollution.
The agreement is aimed at a Europe that will be climate neutral in 2050. To this end, a European climate law is proposed, which will turn political commitment into a legal obligation, while creating the necessary framework for investments.
Achieving the goals set by the Deal will require action in all areas of the economy, such as:
• investment in environmental technologies,
• support for innovation in the industrial/manufacturing sector,
• development of cleaner, more economical and healthier forms of private and public transport,
• Ridding the energy sector of carbon emissions,
• ensuring the energy efficiency of buildings, working with international partners to improve global environmental standards
The EU will also provide financial support and technical assistance to help citizens, businesses and regions affected more by the transition to a green economy. This action is called "Just Transition Mechanism" and will contribute to the mobilization of at least €100 billion for the period 2021-2027 in the most affected areas. At research and innovation level, the implementation of the Deal goes into effect immediately. Already the EU, in co-operation with member states and using the framework of the Horizon 2020 Program, is jointly formulating a special Call for Proposals for the Green Deal. The call, with a budget of €1 billion, will be announced in mid-September 2020 with a deadline for submitting proposals in late January 2021.
The projects are expected to yield fast, tangible results and show how research and innovation can provide specific solutions to the main priorities of the Green Deal. The call will support pilot applications, demonstration projects and innovative products, while also encouraging social innovation for new ways of engaging society and strengthening citizen participation. It contains 11 thematic areas: Eight thematic areas that reflect the main workflows of the Deal. The topics target specific, high-impact technological and social innovations that can help promote sustainable transition relatively quickly.
Also, three horizontal areas (knowledge enhancement, citizen empowerment and international cooperation) offer a long-term perspective for achieving the reforms set out in the Agreement.
Additional research and innovation initiatives will be funded by the next EU research and innovation program - Horizon Europe. Detailed information about the upcoming Green Deal calls, also by region, can be obtained via the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/strategy/european-green-deal/call_en
