Ten days after taking office, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented a "Green Pact" in Brussels on Wednesday (11 December). This roadmap towards climate neutrality by 2050 is destined to become the EU's "new growth strategy".
The former German Defense Minister speaks in full COP25 and on the eve of a major European summit. She explained that on the one hand, she wanted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, on the other, to create jobs and boost innovation.
Convinced that "the old growth model based on fossil fuels and pollution is out of date", Ursula von der Leyen unveiled "50 actions for 2050", a list of legislative proposals, action plans, strategies, guidelines, covering varied sectors. With the aim of making Europe the carbon neutral "first continent" by mid-century.
"Cost of inaction"
"Some say the cost of this transformation is too high, let's never forget what the cost of inaction would be," she warned.
She compared this moment in the history of the EU to that of the launch of the conquest of the Moon by the United States. Or, 70 years ago, the European project based on investments in coal and steel.
The opportunity was well worth an extraordinary plenary session of the European Parliament, where Ursula von der Leyen came in person to present the "Pact", with its Vice President for Climate, Frans Timmermans.
The pillar will be a great "climate law" that must include the date of 2050 for carbon neutrality. It will be proposed by March.
This deadline, however, has not yet been endorsed by EU leaders. The new President of the European Council, Charles Michel, hopes to rally the last recalcitrant at a summit on Thursday. Three countries, still very dependent on fossil fuels and in particular coal, are blocking: Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
With AFP
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