Update on EU progress to climate neutrality: towards a more competitive and secure Europe
This year’s EU-wide progress report, the second of its kind by the European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO), comes at a political juncture, being published shortly after the 2024 EU elections. While the composition of the EU’s legislative body will undoubtedly change, we expect that most representatives in the European Parliament will still agree on the necessity of the transition as envisioned in the Green Deal - not just for the sake of emission reductions, but also to guarantee Europe’s international competitiveness and its political autonomy.
With ECNO's second progress report, we are not only providing an update of progress towards EU climate neutrality based on new data but are highlighting crucial areas of action for incoming EU policy-makers. ECNO’s analysis shows that the EU is moving in the right direction, but that the pace of progress is still too slow in several areas. Yet, the Fit for 55 package under the European Green Deal has boosted policies that address some of the crucial bottlenecks visible in past data. ECNO’s assessment serves as direct input to the next COM and EP work programme, in support of achieving the EU’s agreed targets.
At the launch event in Brussels, we will present our newest findings and engage with relevant high-profile stakeholders from the European Parliament and the economy. We will host two thematic panels on topics that move the EU at the moment: industrial transformation and just transition for the people of the EU.
Agenda
10:00 - Opening and welcome: pointers for the next EU legislative cycle
- Sonja van Renssen, Moderator
- Matthias Duwe, ECNO Coordinator, Ecologic Institute
10:10 - Presentation of ECNO findings: signs of progress in key transition areas
- Eike Velten, Senior Fellow, Ecologic Institute
- Markus Hagemann, NewClimate Institute
- Clara Calipel, Research Fellow, Institute for Climate Economics
10:40 - Thematic exchange I - Industrial transformation: a climate neutral and competitive industrial base in Europe
- Suzana Carp, Deputy Executive Director, CleanTech Europe
- Robert Jan Jeekel, Head of European Institutional Affairs, ArcelorMittal Europe
11:20 - Thematic exchange II - Just transition: bringing citizens along on the journey to net zero
- Maciej Sytek, Director, Regional Development Agency in Konin, Wielkopolska region, Poland
- Giulia Laganà, Co-Director, Just Transition Centre at International Trade Union Confederation
11:55 - Conclusions and outlook
- Matthias Duwe, ECNO Coordinator - Ecologic Institute
From 12:00 - Networking lunch
