Cleaning up industry: why the EU's strategy isn't enough yet
Posted on July, 08 2020
The strategy fails to say how and by when EU Industries will achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions
The new EU Industrial Strategy, released by the European Commission on 10 March 2020 as part of a larger industrial package, is the first sector-specific plan to be published since the European Green Deal was announced.It is an opportunity to put the EU economy on track towards climate neutrality, and put climate action at the heart of the EU’s economic recovery from the health crisis, by making a clear case for the decarbonisation of industries.
However, the new Industrial Strategy fails to capture how and by when EU Industries will achieve a net zero greenhouse gas emissions or manufacture climate-neutral products. Rather than providing clear overarching objectives for industry, it mainly compiles old strategies on competitiveness and announces new initiatives. There is no mention of intermediate and long-term decarbonisation targets.
Moreover, the Strategy fails to stress the competitive advantage that the low-carbon and digital transitions would bring. The Industrial Strategy is now in the hands of the European Parliament and the Council for discussion.
This analysis by WWF and Carbon Market Watch looks at what needs to be improved in the strategy.
Contact:
Camille Maury
Policy Officer, Decarbonisation of Industry
cmaury@wwf.eu
+32 495 42 00 49
Sarah Azau
Media manager
sazau@wwf.eu
+32 473 573137
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue visits the Jane Addams Resource Corporation, an employment and training provider that offers skills training and support services to help lower-income and unemployed workers achieve self-sufficiency, in Baltimore, MD, on March 5, 2020.
© US department of agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue visits the Jane Addams Resource Corporation, an employment and training provider that offers skills training and support services to help lower-income and unemployed workers achieve self-sufficiency, in Baltimore, MD, on March 5, 2020.
© US department of agriculture