With the growing prevalence of natural disasters and other hazardous events, and the emergence of infectious diseases of probable animal origin (leading, for example, to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic), the pressure is mounting on governments worldwide to follow through on implementing the Paris Agreement and other commitments on biodiversity and disaster risk reduction.

‘The Paris Agreement is humanity's life insurance,’ President von der Leyen recently reiterated at the Global Leaders’ Summit on Earth Day 2021. ‘Because we are getting dangerously close to 1.5 degrees of global warming (…) We must show that we all have understood this and that we are ready for more climate action. Science tells us it is not too late yet, but we must hurry up.’

The European Green Deal is the European Union’s vision for the future and the green recovery is its response to current challenges, together with a strong emphasis on building back better and guaranteeing sustainable transformations.

The EU is therefore working to ensure that international commitments are met, and is aiming for a more ambitious sustainable cooperation with its partners. The Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI) will ensure that actions contributing to climate objectives will represent at least 30 % of its overall financial envelope according to the Rio marker tracking system. Spending must have no negative impact on biodiversity and must support biodiversity targets, with 7.5 % of the overall EU budget set aside for biodiversity objectives by 2024, and 10 % by 2026 (Rio marker tracking). Multiannual Indicative Programmes (MIPs) for 2021-2027 are being designed to reflect the Green Deal’s ambitions and targets. Early engagements with our partners have confirmed their commitments to cooperate on the environment and climate.

The EU will continue to opt for nature-based solutions wherever possible, as it seeks to support its partners to safeguard their natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Also, through climate action, the EU will continue to help vulnerable countries to become more resilient, foster innovation, mobilise green investment and create new markets and transforming industries, for a healthier, more inclusive and more prosperous future.

The EU is thus tooling up its programmes to help play a key role in driving the global (green) recovery. Through the Team Europe approach, it is joining forces with EU Member States and other stakeholders to ensure the promotion of an environmentally-friendly recovery. The upcoming MIPs for 2021-2027 will reflect this shared ambition and commitment (EU adoption of the MIPs is expected before the end of the year). This transformational shift is taking place across all sectors, from food systems to the circular economy, sustainable energy or biodiversity protection.

For further guidance on greening EU cooperation and on how to implement the Green Deal, contact:

Environment and Climate Change Mainstreaming Facility
E:  INTPA-GREENING-FACILITY@ec.europa.eu | NEAR-GREENING-FACILITY@ec.europa.eu