A net zero future offers significant opportunities for the European economy, society and citizens
Climate KIC’s views on the EU 2030 Climate Target Plan.
The recent announcements from the European Commission on the EU Recovery Plan from the COVID-19 crisis bring significant opportunities to drive further efforts and investments in the green transition. But today’s political decisions must be consistent with the European Green Deal and its long-term climate neutrality goal. To achieve the speed and scale of decarbonisation needed, the EU approach must help trigger systemic change for decarbonisation.
In its consultation paper on the 2030 Climate Target Plan, Climate KIC encourages the European Commission to set a 2030 European emissions reduction target consistent with a 1.5-degree pathway. Such a goal is significantly more ambitious than current agreed European targets and must go beyond 55% greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2030.
While investment in research and innovation will be critical to create the enabling conditions to transform our economic and societal systems to become more resilient and better prepared for systemic risks, a business-as-usual approach to innovation will not be enough. A systems innovation approach, on the other hand, would unlock change at the scale and speed needed to trigger massive change for decarbonisation by simultaneously acting on various levers of change—from policy to education, innovation, finance and citizen engagement. This could maximise climate impact on the ground and reinforce Europe’s position as the leader of the global climate action movement.
Systems innovation is at the core of Climate KIC Deep Demonstrations approach. It takes a close look at the relationship and intersections between multiple levers of change and connects the dots to help ‘challenge owners’ (local authorities, government ministries, industry leaders and funders) who have the means and mandate to tackle Europe’s biggest climate change challenges.
Read the EU 2030 Climate Target Plan Consultation Contribution by Climate KIC: