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EU-aanpak

2050 long-term strategy

Policy

The European Commission calls for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050.

On 28 November 2018, the Commission presented its strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate-neutral economy by 2050.

The strategy shows how Europe can lead the way to climate neutrality by investing into realistic technological solutions, empowering citizens, and aligning action in key areas such as industrial policy, finance, or research – while ensuring social fairness for a just transition.

Following the invitations by the European Parliament and the European Council, the Commission's vision for a climate-neutral future covers nearly all EU policies and is in line with the Paris Agreement objective to keep the global temperature increase to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to keep it to 1.5°C.

Key documents

  1. Factsheet: Long-term strategy for greenhouse gas emissions reduction
  2. Factsheet: Economic transition
  3. Factsheet: Industrial transition
  4. Factsheet: Societal transition

Stakeholder input

  • A stakeholder event on 10-11 July 2018 brought together stakeholders from business, research and civil society for a discussion on the forthcoming strategy.
  • The public consultation from 17 July to 9 October 2018 received more than 2800 replies.

Next steps

The Commission’s strategic vision is an invitation to all EU institutions, the national parliaments, business sector, non-governmental organisations, cities and communities, as well as citizens and especially the youth, to participate in ensuring the EU can continue to show leadership and encourage other international partners to do the same.

This EU-wide informed debate should allow the EU to adopt and submit an ambitious strategy by early 2020 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as requested under the Paris Agreement.

EU at COP24

The Commission adopted its strategic vision on 28 November 2018, ahead of the UN climate summit (COP24) in Katowice, Poland.

During the conference, the EU hosted over 100 side events at the EU Pavilion, including several events on long-term climate perspectives and strategies.

More information on EU at COP24

Factsheets on EU initiatives

  1. Putting the Financial Sector at the Service of the Climate
  2. EU External Investment Plan - Opportunities for Africa and the EU Neighbourhood region
  3. Urban Investment Support for Cities
  4. Clean Energy for Islands Initiative
  5. Structural Support Action for Coal and Carbon Intensive Regions
  6. European Youth for Climate Action
  7. Smart Finance for Smart Buildings Investment Facility
  8. EU Rulebook for Investment in Energy Performance of Public Buildings
  9. Investing in Clean Industrial Technologies
  10. Clean, Connected and Competitive Mobility 
Documentation

2018 - Vision for a long-term EU strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions

2011 - Roadmap for a competitive low-carbon Europe

In 2011, the European Commission put forward a roadmap for a competitive low-carbon Europe by 2050. The roadmap presented possible action up to 2050 which could enable the EU to deliver greenhouse gas reductions in line with the 80 to 95% target agreed internationally in the context of necessary reductions by developed countries as a group. The roadmap outlined milestones towards the target, policy challenges, investment needs and opportunities in different sectors.

Key documents:

  • 04/2012 - Behavioural Climate Change Mitigation Options and Their Appropriate Inclusion in Quantitative Longer Term Policy Scenarios
EU-aanpak