Transformation of the energy system: key to climate protection in Europe
With the European Green Deal, the European Union has set itself the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and replacing fossil fuels with renewable energies. For this transformation to succeed, it is necessary to massively expand and develop infrastructure for hydrogen, heat generation, mobility and electrical grids. At the same time, the conditions must be created for an effective reduction of climate-relevant emissions in a single emissions trading system.
Transition to a climate-neutral society
Effective climate protection serves to safeguard our livelihoods - in Germany, in Europe and worldwide. The consequences of man-made climate change are already directly affecting more and more people and ecosystems, for example through extreme weather events such as droughts, forest fires, hurricanes, floods, glacier melt and landslides. Indirect consequences include the loss of biodiversity and habitat, the loss of food security and the migration of people. Early and rapidly increasing investment in climate protection - especially in the transformation of the energy system - is now necessary in order to achieve the 2045 climate targets.
Total global CO2 emissions 1850-2019
With the European Green Deal, the European Commission initiated a political project in 2019 that aims to lead the EU to climate neutrality by 2050. The European Climate Law came into force in 2021. The programme for more climate and environmental protection includes all relevant sectors such as transport, agriculture and industry. The primary goal is an ecological and economic structural change and thus the end of greenhouse gas emissions.
Greenhouse gas-neutral, resource-efficient and competitive
A milestone goal is to reduce emissions by 50 to 55 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. To achieve this, 50 proposals for revising and updating existing legislation and ideas for new initiatives have been put forward. These include the expansion of emissions trading, an action plan for the circular economy and nature conservation measures such as the EU forest and biodiversity strategy.
Audioplayer
Prof Dr Robert Schlögl on the necessity of an energy turnaround
Chemist and catalysis researcher
The EU wants to be a greenhouse gas-neutral, resource-efficient and economically competitive community. This requires investment in infrastructure and industrial facilities as well as innovation. Investment periods in the energy and industrial sectors are often 30 to 50 years: what is built today will still be in operation in 2050.