Decoupling Europe's economic growth from resource consumption and worrying about a fair energy transition. It seems like yet another appeal from environmental organizations against all those who hinder the development of a new economic model. Instead, it is the core of the latest report from the EEA, the European Environment Agency: “Just Sustainable Transitions – From Concept to Practice”. The document is online and was prepared to give governments advice on the risks that a too rapid transition can cause in the social fabric. It was released a few hours before Donald Trump's victory in the USA and will be discussed in the coming weeks.
Better manage the transition
The process of a more sustainable and environmentally protective economy in Europe and the world is not being questioned, but over time good reasons have developed to prevent it from creating new inequalities. It is time to better govern transitions and create justice towards sustainability, says the EEA. For the first time, the need to fundamentally review the mechanisms of production of goods and services is being expressed. The protagonists of such a complex revolution must know that the choices to be made are multidimensional. For years, the European Union has been divided on the path to take, to the point of rewarding with electoral consensus forces openly opposed to any change. In one way or another, we must deal with the leadership in the field, starting, outside the EU, with Trump's.
The newly elected Commission is burdened with the responsibility of taking corrective measures to address the social consequencesthe potentially regressive aspects of the green transition. In more detail, who should think about it? How? Finding your way among Meloni, Orban, Macron and Scholz is not easy given the differences in vision and the open problems. The Agency's report, however, does not evade the question and indicates the implementation of "participatory decision-making processes, the recognition of different cultures, values and capabilities" as a solution. Everything revolves around guarantees of fairness towards the objectives of the Green Deal.
The test for Ursula von der Leyen
The report's approach seems apolitical, in the sense that the operational indications must apply to everyone, but it is well known that this is not the case. Behind the hope for a new working method, there is the disharmony of costs of climate and environmental policies. There are those who pay more and those who have no passion for the green economy. Experts have examined case studies and this is perhaps the reason why it is said that in order not to fail from now on there is a need for "equitable participation in the decision-making process, allowing vulnerable groups to participate and recognizing and engaging with different perspectives and cultures". If we do not witness new rushes forward, plans hindered by lobbies of all kinds, which do not take into account specificities, inequalities, local issues or geographical socio-economic trends, we won't get far. It is more than a certainty. “The political guidelines of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen refer to the need to ensure a just transition for all,” writes the EEA. But the president must really work hard not to fail.
Trump's Victory on CopP29
Meanwhile, the Council of the EU has published the data on the EU's contribution to the climate of developing countries. In 2023, the Union has granted 28,6 billion euros especially to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Figures that confirm "the determined efforts of the EU and its Member States to meet their international climate financial commitments, in particular towards the collective objective of developed countries to mobilize 100 billion dollars per year until 2025". In a few days (9-11 November) this will be discussed at Cop29 in Baku and it will also be better understood what the victory of Donald Trump in the USA. Delegates from all over the world will meet to discuss strategies against climate change and the resources to be made available. The USA has a considerable weight but with the conservative at the White House for the next four years the scenario is getting gloomy. Europe will have some backlash from Trump's positions who will deny the Paris climate agreement for the second time. And we won't be surprised if government representatives are even softer on the things to do and the money to budget. The Donald can really be a bad teacher.
