Industry ministers from EU Member States will be invited by the Romanian Presidency of the Council to give their views on how industry can contribute to a carbon-neutral economy by 2050, in line with the Clean Planet strategy recently presented by the European Commission at the next Competitiveness Council on 18 and 19 February.
The Council submits a series of questions in particular to explore the possible link between the holistic industrial strategy 2030 (see EUROPE 12162) and the ‘Clean Planet' strategy, presented last November, as well as the measures to be taken at the various decision-making levels (local, national and European, as well as international) to accompany the 'green' transition of the industrial sector.
One question is about how to reduce the cost of industrial transition so that consumers, citizens or investors accept it and actively engage in it. This is a particularly topical issue, given the movement of ‘yellow vests’ that is currently shaking up France and which originated with the introduction of a ‘carbon’ tax on fuels.
The strategy presented by the Commission aims to achieve the objectives set out in the Paris Agreement. The institution had identified 7 areas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80%: energy efficiency, renewable energy deployment, clean, safe and connected mobility, the built environment, network infrastructure and interconnection, the bio-economy and development of natural carbon sinks, and industry and the circular economy (see EUROPE 12148).
To consult the document: https://bit.ly/2UM4QSc. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)