New Policy Report on the Green Deal: achieving sustainability and equity in a post-COVID-19 era

The Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), together with the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) as knowledge partner, have launched a new Policy Report: ‘A Green Deal for All: How to achieve sustainability and equity between the people, regions, countries and generations of Europe in a post-COVID-19 era.’

Since the covid-crisis outbreak, many have wondered whether the pandemic is a threat or an opportunity to the European Green Deal and EU climate ambitions. This report argues that the global health crisis shall be seen as a strong opportunity to reinforce the reach of the European Green Deal.

“In the follow-up of the recent European Council and of the mandate given to the European Commission, the European Green Deal must also be central to the design of the European Recovery Fund as well as the revised MFF”, according to FEPS President Maria Joao Rodrigues.

The European Green Deal is a key priority of this EU legislation and in essence it was designed to be the backbone of a European growth strategy. In this new context of economic recession, the European Green Deal can help create new, quality jobs in sustainable sectors in a context of rising unemployment. However, for social benefits to materialise, the Green Deal must be designed and implemented by putting fairness and equity at its very core. This is the main added value of this report.

“If we consider the European Green Deal as a necessary part of the EU recovery plan, it is then normal to expect that the revised MFF proposal will take this into consideration and not only shield climate-related spending yet rather allow for higher resources to be mobilised for the necessary transformation and adaptation of the European economy.”

The report warns against an unsustainable recovery pathway which would waste precious public funds on shoring up the fossil fuel economy and lock Europe’s youth and future generations into destructive high-carbon and unsustainable pathways.

According to Céline Charveriat, Executive Director of the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP): “It is time to put equity and sustainability at the heart of Europe’s recovery. This means putting those furthest behind first, including Europe’s poorest citizens, regions and countries. Taxing pollution rather than people would support employment at a critical time, finance a green Marshall Plan for Europe’s most affected countries and reduce the ecological debt that Europe’s youth and future generations will have to bear.”