A few thoughts on Ursula von der Leyen's European Green Deal Is this Christmas party … to be followed by a massive hangover ?

The European Green Deal is out. So are the ideas of a Climate Law and of a Climate Pact with European citizens.

Sure, there will be some pessimistic and disgruntled people who will find things to be criticised but overall, all the right boxes have been thicked. Environmental activists, workers’ unions, civil society at large should be welcoming the direction and the ambition.

The task seems « pharaonic », colossal.

But the EU is a « Giant with feet of clay » and one can anticipate already the challenges linked to the implementation of the « Green New Deal », between Member States’ discords and stakeholders’ defensive postures. Especially since the « Green New Deal » suggests re-opening without delays policy measures that have just been adopted and haven’t paid dividends yet...

... and remains quite timid when it comes to social justice.

The likely list of grievances

In short, climate change mitigation is THE paramount challenge for the world and for Europe, but already Poland, Hungary and Czech make their dissent clear. And the poor conclusion of COP 25 doesn’t send very positive signals.

The revision of the Emissions Trading Scheme and its « leakage status » will put several industry sectors up in arms, even if some had been calling for a border tax mechanism.

The review of the recently adopted LULUCF policy is likely to create discomfort in the land use sector and related industries, especially on the forestry side.

And the bioeconomy has been put under the carpet, being mentioned in connection with the one area where the EU has no mandate, forestry !! While it has the potential to be an opportunity for Europe to grow, create jobs and be globally competitive …

Finally, the margins for manœuvre might be quite limited in the current global trade mayhem, if Europe doens’t want to add to the cacophony fueled by unpredictable US, Chinese, Brazilian, etc. leaders?

Will the transition be actually just and inclusive ?

It comes as a « mantra » throughout the Communication. Putting citizens and workers at the very center of Europe’s endeavor.

It is true that over decades, social sustainability has been the « poor relation » that has been ignored for too long.

Therefore,

• Will a « guidance to assist Member States in adressing the issue of energy poverty » be good enough and do the job ?
• Won’t a « Just Transition Mechanism » only focused on regions and sectors affected by the climate transition create even more unjust and unfair situations ?
• Is the solution to be merely found in adjusting education and training, in offering re-skilling and up-skilling ?
• ...

People on the margins of poverty won’t see the « less than 2°C by the end of the century » as the paramount priority.

Today’s level of social unrest (see the French « yellow vests ») shows that the current alarming environmental challenges won’t be solved without a robust social agenda. People on the margins of poverty won’t see the « less than 2°C by the end of the century » as the paramount priority.

Time has come for a social turn. After the environmental sustainability Grand Mass, time for social sustainability is now !