Staying the Course Towards a Sustainable Europe

The drought periods, heatwaves, and wildfires during the summer of 2022 made it abundantly clear why mitigating climate change is one of the foremost challenges of the 21st century. With the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, the EU possesses the world's most ambitious climate agenda. Accomplishing this objective would set a much-needed example for other nations and regions to follow.

Global emissions reduction and unparalleled adaptations are necessary to avert the most severe consequences of the climate crisis. Regarding biodiversity loss, while precise figures are scarce in scientific literature, it's widely recognized that the state of nature in Europe and the rest of the world is as alarming as rising temperatures.

The climate and biodiversity crises are interconnected in various ways. Perhaps most importantly, both are ultimately driven by unsustainable production and consumption systems. One of the culprits is the amount of energy we extract and use, as well as how we do so.

In our 2022 EMA 'Signals,' we delve extensively into energy and sustainability in a Europe recovering from the coronavirus pandemic, grappling with the conflict in Ukraine, and committed to ambitious goals for climate protection, nature conservation, and public health.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine doesn't change the reality of the climate crisis or the degradation of nature, but it adds a new dimension to Europe's efforts to make our energy system more sustainable.

The common thread in reducing greenhouse gas emissions is reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, and it's now clear that this is also the path to greater energy security. Russia leverages fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, to threaten and challenge Europe. This wouldn't be possible if we had an energy system primarily based on a robust European network of domestic interconnected renewable sources.

Building a sustainable energy system for Europe takes time, and the decisions we make now will determine the options available to us in the coming decades. This is especially true for costly energy infrastructure. In the current circumstances, Europe must act swiftly while maintaining the right direction to avoid being locked into solutions that don't align with what we want to pass on to future generations.

Something we can all do now is save energy. Lowering the thermostat, insulating our homes, using less hot water, transitioning to greener transportation—these are well-known measures needed throughout Europe that will yield immediate benefits. The cleanest and cheapest energy is always the energy we don't use. This principle will guide us all through the upcoming winter.

European countries and citizens have shown tremendous solidarity with Ukraine and with each other. This solidarity will be even more crucial in the coming months, years, and possibly decades. Many European households, especially families already struggling to meet their basic needs, will be heavily impacted by high energy costs this winter. The increasing negative impacts of climate change are often felt most severely by those who are already vulnerable. These burdens must be shared and borne in collective solidarity.

Furthermore, the most severe consequences of climate change globally will predominantly affect regions that have contributed least to the problem and have the fewest resources to implement adaptations. Moreover, we must act equitably toward future generations. The principle of "intergenerational justice" demands that we safeguard the opportunities and security of those who come after us.

Amidst the numerous crises, it's easy to lose hope, but the significant challenges of this century were caused by humans and can also be solved by humans. The solutions already exist; now they must be implemented. New technologies can accelerate progress, but waiting for them is no longer a realistic option. Inaction is becoming increasingly expensive and unethical.

The fact that urgent action is required doesn't mean we should abandon the principles of how we make decisions and set our collective goals. The European Green Deal stands as evidence that the necessary policy measures can be implemented through a fully democratic process.

When given the opportunity, citizens will support policies that are bold and fair and promise a much safer future for everyone. Citizens must be fully engaged in the process. The complexity of our challenges demands greater involvement, more dialogue, and more attention to the various realities in which people live.

When I joined EMA almost a decade ago, most climate and biodiversity goals had 2020 as their deadline. In recent years, Europe has undeniably charted a long-term course toward a better, fairer, and more sustainable future with the European Green Deal.

Now, the task is to stay on that course and forge ahead resolutely to realize this agenda. In doing so, we must protect and even strengthen the "European model," based on democratic values, the rule of law, and a society committed to the well-being of everyone.