The European Union’s Policies and Role in Tackling Climate Change in the Context of the European Green Deal

Abstract

In recent years, many nations have accelerated efforts to increase public awareness on environment and reduce the negative impact of the climate change. The European Union (EU) has been one of the most active international actors in environmental protection, implementing policies focused on providing a sustainable future for its citizens and protecting natural resources. The European Green Deal (EGD) which is a comprehensive plan with the goal of making the EU a climate-neutral zone by 2050 includes strategies, policies, and measures in numerous sectors such as economy, energy, transportation, agriculture, and industry. The EGD's targets include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, increasing the share of renewable energy at least 42.5% within the EU by 2030, promoting circular economy, and encouraging the use of low-emission vehicles (European Commission, 2020a). The Deal is set to transform the European economy into a more sustainable and low-carbon economy and fight against climate change all around the Europe and partner countries. The EU is committed to provide financial support for the actions required to address the root causes of climate change and environmental issues. This chapter examines the initiatives adopted by the EU to mitigate environmental issues and the effects of climate change in the context of the EGD. The study's objective is to assess the EU's efforts to help bring about a more sustainable environment in which negative impacts of the climate change and the release of harmful gases are significantly reduced.

Citation

Ecer, K. and Güner, O. (2024), "The European Union’s Policies and Role in Tackling Climate Change in the Context of the European Green Deal", Açikalin, Ş.N. and Erçetin, Ş.Ş. (Ed.) The Social Consequences of Climate Change, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 163-185. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83797-677-520241013