Achieving the current 2030 climate and energy targets is estimated to require €260 billion of additional annual investment, representing about 1.5% of 2018 GDP. This investment will need the mobilisation ofthe public and private sectors. The Commission will present in early 2020 a Sustainable Europe Investment Plan to help meet investment needs. At least 25% of the EU's long-term budget should be dedicated to climate action, and the European Investment Bank, Europe's climate bank, will provide further support. For the private sector to contribute to financing the green transition, the Commission will present a Green Financing Strategy in 2020.

Becoming the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050 is the greatest challenge and opportunity of our times. To achieve this, the European Commission presented the European Green Deal, the most ambitious package of measures that should enable European citizens and businesses to benefit from sustainable green transition. Measures accompanied with an initial roadmap of key policies range from ambitiously cutting emissions, to investing in cutting-edge research and innovation, to preserving Europe’s natural environment.

Supported by investments in green technologies, sustainable solutions and new businesses, the Green Deal can be a new EU growth strategy. Involvement and commitment of the public and of all stakeholders is crucial to its success.

Climate change and environmental degradation present an existential threat to Europe and the world. To overcome this challenge, Europe needs a new growth strategy that transforms the Union into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050, where economic growth is decoupled from resource use and where no one and no place is left behind.

What kind of projects they are looking for?

Clean energy

• Interconnect energy systems and better link/integrate renewable energy sources to the grid
• Promote innovative technologies and modern infrastructure
• Boost energy efficiency and eco-design of products
• Decarbonise the gas sector and promote smart integration across sectors
• Empower consumers and help
• Increase cross-border and regional cooperation to better share clean energy sources
• Promote EU energy standards and technologies at global level
• Develop the full potential of Europe’s offshore wind energy

Sustainable industry

Achieving the EU’s climate and environmental goals requires a new industrial policy based on the circular economy. Efforts will focus first on resource intense sectors such as:

• textiles
• construction
• electronics
• plastics

Europe needs a digital sector that puts sustainability and green growth at its heart. Digitalisation presents new opportunities for:

• monitoring of air and water pollution,
• monitoring and optimising how energy and natural resources are consumed.

Building and renovating

Better energy performance of buildings

• Prices of different energy sources should incentivise energy-efficient buildings
• Design of buildings should be in line with the circular economy
• Increased digitalisation
• More climate-proofing of buildings
• Strict enforcement of rules on energy performance of buildings.

Sustainable mobility

Go digital

• Automated mobility and smart traffic management systems will make transport more efficient and cleaner.
• Smart applications and ‘Mobility as a Service’ solutions will be developed.

Use different modes of transport More freight should be transported by rail or water. And the Single European Sky should significantly reduce aviation emissions at zero cost to consumers and companies.

Biodiversity

BIODIVERSITY

• The Commission will make proposals to green European cities and increase biodiversity in urban spaces
• The farm to fork strategy will work to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilisers in agriculture.

FORESTS

• The EU will help improve the quality and quantity of European forests to reach climate neutrality and a healthy environment.

OCEANS

• The blue economy must play a central role in tackling climate change
• We need to make the best use of our marine resources, for example by promoting the use of algae and other new sources of protein

From Farm to Fork

European food must remain safe, nutritious and of high quality. It must be produced with minimum impact on nature.

The European Commission will work with Member States and stakeholders to:

• Ensure the transition is fair and just for everyone working in the European agricultural and maritime sector;
• Reduce significantly the dependency, risk and use of chemical pesticides, as well as of fertilisers, antibiotics;
• Develop innovative farming and fishing techniques that protect harvest from pests and diseases.

Farm to Fork will contribute to achieving a circular economy – from production to consumption:

• Better informed citizens
• More efficient food production systems
• Better storage and packaging
• Healthy consumption and reduce food loss and waste
• More sustainable processing and farm transport

Eliminating pollution

CLEAN WATER

• Preserve biodiversity in our lakes, rivers and wetlands.
• Reduce pollution from excess nutrients thanks to the Farm to Fork strategy.
• Reduce particularly harmful pollution from micro-plastics and pharmaceuticals.

CLEAN AIR

• Review air quality standards in line with the World Health Organization guidelines.
• Provide support to local authorities to achieve cleaner air for our citizens.

INDUSTRY

• Reduce pollution from large industrial installations.
• Improve prevention of industrial accidents.

CHEMICALS

• Protect citizens against dangerous chemicals with a new chemicals strategy for sustainability for a toxic-free environment.
• Develop more sustainable alternatives.
• Combine better health protection with increased global competitiveness.
• Improve rules on assessment of substances launched on the market.