The European Environment Agency published a new strategic outlook report on Wednesday 3 July, focusing on the European Commission’s new priorities for the period 2024-2029 (see EUROPE 13442/13).
Entitled “Europe’s Sustainability Transitions Outlook”, the EEA report assesses environmental and climate objectives in terms of competitiveness, equity and security. According to the EEA, it is a question of “staying the course on sustainability amid shocks and crises”, in other words, finding “a balance between short-term responses and long-term sustainability goals”.
As part of the objective of European economic competitiveness, environmental imperatives are reflected, according to the EEA, in a greener industry, in sustainable investment and in the targeting of public investment. The European Chips Act and that for a ‘net zero emissions’ industry (see EUROPE 13322/9) are cited as examples. The EEA points out that producing electric vehicles, renovating buildings and investing in renewable energies can create jobs. The aim is to achieve a ‘net zero emissions’ economy.
The EEA is calling for cross-cutting funding for the environment in the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), after 2027. “Overall, a revision of the EU spending mechanisms should ensure that all public funding is aligned with, or at least is not countering, sustainability transition goals”, the report states.
The EEA therefore calls for the use of requirements or conditionality in public funding, and for stricter application of the precautionary and prevention principles and the ‘polluter pays’ principle.
Furthermore, sustainable finance must play a crucial role in climate change, according to the EEA, which points out that there is currently an investment deficit in the area of nature-based solutions.
The link between climate, peace, security and defence, as established by the European Commission and the High Representative in June 2023, is also recalled by the EEA, with the report giving as examples the need to reduce climate migration, dependence on fossil fuel suppliers and environmental conflicts. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)