Rapporteur Talks

Advancing Europe's strategic autonomy is a key objective of the European Commission - particularly with regards to the digital domain.

The COVID pandemic has demonstrated the need to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more digital and more resilient economic and industrial model in order to maintain and strengthen Europe's aspirations for sustainable competitiveness.

Under the French Presidency the EU passed a groundbreaking piece of legislation - the Digital Markets Act. It will limit the power of gatekeeping platforms and aims to keep digital markets fair and open to competition - a prerequisite for sovereignty. Paris also supported the Commission’s plans to create trusted alternatives to non-EU offerings, by developing a European cloud ecosystem and proposing a European Digital Identity. With the new chip act, Commissioner Breton wants to reduce dependencies in the semiconductor sector, as the race for the most advanced chips is a race for technological and industrial leadership.

These are important steps, but many stakeholders are looking for more under the Czech presidency. Europe is still largely dependent on non-European companies for most of its digital life. Although the New Data Act is supposed to help the European data economy flourish, much of the industrial data generated in Europe is so far stored and processed by cloud providers abroad, and user-driven innovation comes mainly from outside the EU. To thrive economically, Europe must regain more autonomy over data and digital technology.

What other policy instruments are appropriate to strengthen European competitiveness at a time when the number of global challenges is steadily increasing? How can the Czech Presidency help realise the full potential of Digital to advance the Green transition? And how can we make sure that all actors who benefit from reliable highspeed connectivity fairly contribute to the investment in digital infrastructure, as required by ambitious connectivity targets set out by the Digital Decade 2030?

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to find out about the results of the French Presidency's digital priorities and the challenges the Czech Presidency faces in advancing Europe’s green and digital transformation.

Recently, the agrifood sector has faced unprecedented challenges due to global warming, the Covid-19 crisis, and the war in Ukraine. Since the start of the war, calls to strengthen food security have dramatically increased across Europe.

The conflict has exacerbated surges in agricultural prices, jeopardising the ability of more vulnerable countries to import the required quantity of food. At a European level, EU officials declared that despite the consequences of the war on the agrifood sector, food security is not at risk in the bloc.

However, as we cannot predict how the situation will evolve in the near future, EU Member States are encouraged to increase their food production in order to address food security concerns. To cope with this crisis, the European Commission has asked Member States to adjust their CAP national strategic plans in consideration of the evolving geopolitical context.

In parallel, many argue that it's necessary to keep in mind the EU Green Deal and F2F objectives, and to build a stable and sustainable food system. It will therefore be a big challenge for the new CAP to ensure food security whilst also achieving the ambitions outlined in the EU Green Deal.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out about the challenges faced by the new CAP in achieving food security and Green Deal ambitions. Discussed questions included:
- How can the EU help its Member States to ensure food security in a sustainable manner?
- Which concrete measures should be taken in their CAP national strategic plans?
- How to encourage Member States to achieve EU Green Deal objectives in the current geopolitical context?

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Building bridges between citizens, organisations, EU institutions and European governments remains a fundamental challenge towards making European policymaking accessible and transparent for all citizens across Europe.

As stated in Article 10 of the Treaty on European Union, ‘open decision-making is carried out as closely as possible to the citizens’. Access to public information, also known as the ‘right to know’, is vital for a functioning democracy.

With the rise of disinformation these past years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is seen as a prominent tool that could help strengthen democracies, if properly implemented and regulated. By using data-based scrutiny, AI could help achieve more transparency in the EU, preventing disinformation as well as ensuring better access to quality information for citizens.

AI is increasingly being used in the media sector as an essential tool to improve the quality of its content and provide more accurate information to its audiences. Many believe that AI has big potential to shape the future of European media.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to find out how AI can contribute to achieving more transparency in the EU policymaking process. Addressed questions included:

- Which tools can be used to help citizens access quality, trust-worthy information?
- How can EU policy stakeholders encourage national and international media to inform citizens about EU policies?
- What are the opportunities offered by AI to achieve these goals?

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is the second largest contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide. Reducing methane emissions is one of the main priority initiatives of the European Green Deal and essential for reaching 2030 climate targets and 2050 climate-neutrality goals. The EU is also one of the instigators of the Global Methane Pledge adopted at COP26 in Glasgow, which commits its signatories to 30% methane reductions by 2030 (compared to 2020 baseline).

Most of anthropogenic methane emissions come from the agriculture, energy and waste sectors. In the EU, the livestock sector is responsible for 53% of methane emissions. However, there are currently no legislative measures in place to drive reductions from that sector. The EU Methane Regulation, published in December 2021, focuses exclusively on energy.

Civil society voices have called for a renewed focus on tackling methane emissions from the livestock sector. Efforts to reduce methane emissions in the energy and waste sectors alone will not suffice to meet ambitious targets set by the European Green Deal and Global Methane Pledge. Measures available range from better regulation of large meat and dairy companies and technical measures to policies driving reductions in meat and dairy production and consumption.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to find out how the EU can tackle methane emissions in its livestock sector to help reach 2030 climate targets and commitments made under the Global Methane Pledge. Discussed questions included:
- How to improve the current legislative framework to tackle methane emissions in the livestock sector?
- How to encourage the sector to move towards more sustainable and low GHG food production?
- Which policy measures are likely to yield most methane reductions?
- How best to combine government policies, large company regulations, and individual lifestyle choices to produce the best results in reducing methane emissions?

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the urgency of reducing the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels and supporting its energy and food independence. This effort will require mobilising an array of domestic resources.

Fit for 55 had already raised the stakes with major revamps of several laws affecting the EU biofuels sector – including the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), CO2 standards for cars, the revamp of the Effort Sharing Regulation and the Emissions Trading System with the possible inclusion of transport, and the Energy Taxation Directive.

Now, with the European Commission’s recent Communications on energy security and food security unveiled as a result of the war in Ukraine, those stakes are even higher.

This event, in the run-up to crucial European Parliament votes on Fit for 55 legislation, will answer key questions confronting the EU as it drives toward carbon neutrality, including: How can the EU scale up renewables in transport in order to meet its emissions-reductions goals? What role will low-carbon liquid fuels play in the transport energy mix? What will be the economic and societal impact of the EU’s climate proposals?

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to find out how the EU can maintain its commitment to achieving Fit for 55 climate and energy goals in an uncertain geopolitical situation.  And what is the evolving role of low-carbon renewable fuels in achieving EU climate and energy goals and the policy steps required to ensure that Europe can meet its commitments for 2030 and beyond? 

The UN Sustainable Development Goals, EU Green Deal, Paris Climate Agreement, and numerous national initiatives adopted by individual governments all reveal there is no dearth of fora and mechanisms to demonstrate the public interest and global political will to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to the recently published March 2022 BEREC draft report on sustainability in the connectivity sector, the digital sector’s impact is 2-4% compared to other industries.

Some industry stakeholders within the connectivity sector have gone beyond being content with these statistics. Many have already begun working towards tackling the energy intensive aspects of their operations and are currently prioritising sustainability. A number of operators have also announced their voluntary commitments to meeting ambitious goals by joining the European Green and Digital Coalition.

There is broad agreement that the ICT sector and digitalisation can have a favourable impact on international and regional climate targets, by enabling green and digital transitions. Companies in the connectivity sector claim they want to make responsible and sustainable investments. For them, one of the key challenges will be to balance their role as an enablers of green and digital transformations with operational resources required to implement their own sustainability efforts. Moreover, several of the EU’s Green Deal and Digital Decade 2030 targets require upgraded infrastructure and increased private investment.

Connectivity operators, within this consistently evolving sector, must contend with increased demand. They claim predictable and harmonised regulations will facilitate sustainable and responsible investments that also benefit consumers.

Relisten to this EURACTIV – GIGAEurope Digital Debate to find out how, through collective action and multi-stakeholder approaches, we can enable a green and digital transition that works for all. Discussed questions included:

-How does the current energy crisis, amplified by the current geopolitical situation, impact the Green Deal objectives and their implementation? How can green ICT contribute to a solution?
-What are the indices, metrics or KPIs that industry and stakeholders can agree to? How can industry, regulators, and policy makers reach a consensus on standardising data and methodologies?
-What should be taken into account when discussing the twin transition and the environmental footprint of the ICT sector?
-By what means should policy makers and stakeholders map sustainability-related actions in the sector and determine what should be counted towards these goals?

Deutschland ist eines der waldreichsten Länder in Europa. Wälder machen fast 30 % der Gesamtfläche aus und erbringen vielfältige ökologische und wirtschaftliche Leistungen. Die Zukunft von Wäldern in Deutschland bleibt jedoch ungewiss - Aspekte wie Forstwirtschaft, Artenschutz und Klimaneutralität sorgen für Uneinigkeit in der nationalen Politik.

Die Waldstrategie 2050 wurde von Deutschlands vorherigen Ministerin für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, Julia Klöckner, ins Leben gerufen. Ein großes Ziel besteht darin, Wälder an ihre klimatischen Bedingungen anzupassen, um so der Klimakrise entgegenzuwirken. Doch es gibt auch Kritik, vor allem im Punkt der Holzerzeugung. Während sich Klöckner in der Strategie weiter für die Nutzung von Holz als Baumaterial ausspricht, fordern viele die Senkung von wirtschaftlichen Interessen im Wald.

Mit den Bundestagswahlen 2021 hat sich der politische Fokus in
Deutschland verschoben. Die neue Regierung will die Klimapolitik verschärfen, zum Beispiel durch die Weiterentwicklung des Klimaschutzgesetzes. Cem Özdemir, derzeitiger Bundesminister für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, hebt die Bedeutsamkeit von Umweltschutz und Artenvielfalt vor.

Waldpolitik ist ein essentieller Teil der Klimapolitik. Bedarf es also einer Erneuerung der Waldstrategie durch die Ampelkoalition?

Im Rahmen des Life Terra Projektes hat EURACTIV einem
virtuellen Stakeholder-Workshop organisiert, um Kritikpunkte und Chancen der Waldstrategie 2050 zu diskutieren.

Der Inhalt dieser Konferenz gibt ausschließlich die Meinung des Autors/der Autorin wieder, der/die allein für den Inhalt verantwortlich ist. Die Europäische Kommission haftet nicht für die etwaige Verwendung der darin enthaltenen Informationen.

Renovating both public and private buildings has been singled out in the European Green Deal as a key initiative to drive energy efficiency in the sector. To pursue this dual ambition of energy gains and economic growth, in 2020 the Commission published the strategy "A Renovation Wave for Europe – Greening our buildings, creating jobs, improving lives".

This strategy comes at a moment when the EU is facing several challenges. First of all, there is the climate emergency. Buildings, currently making up 36% of EU’s energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, are an important sector to be decarbonised to ensure the EU reaches its legally binding target to cut emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

Then, there is a social crisis. Energy poverty is on the rise in Europe. Data from the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub indicates that the number of energy-poor citizens in the EU is between 50 and 125 million. These citizens find themselves struggling to pay their bills due to soaring gas prices, with lowest-income households hit the hardest. These social disparities are also reflected in health inequalities, with housing conditions being an important environmental determinant of health.

Furthermore, Europe has plunged into an energy security crisis. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European leaders have committed to cut their reliance on Russian fossil fuels, which Europe largely depends on, including for heating homes. However, replacing the Russian supply with fossil fuels — instead of renewables and energy efficiency measures — could derail climate action and promote volatile gas prices.

A recently published study by the Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy claims that, if well-designed, the EU Renovation Wave has the potential to cut low-income households’ energy costs by a third and increase their disposable income with home renovation and a switch to clean heating. It suggests that policies to boost home renovation and the uptake of renewable heating could deliver a fairer society and alleviate energy poverty, ensuring that the most vulnerable have access to clean, affordable energy and live in energy-efficient homes.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to find out how a socially just EU Renovation Wave can be achieved. How can a massive renovation of buildings be triggered in the coming decade while ensuring that energy poverty is eradicated?

Buildings are one of the largest sources of energy consumption as they account for 40% of the EU’s final energy consumption and 36% of its greenhouse gas emissions. Boosting their energy performance and moving to low-carbon forms of energy is crucial as it would reduce emissions, tackle energy poverty, support the economic recovery after the Covid-19 crisis, and create new job opportunities across the EU.

The recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is an essential element in completing the objectives of the Fit for 55 package. The new EPBD emphasises the need to modernise the EU building stock by increasing the rate and depth of buildings’ renovations, improving information on energy performance and sustainability of buildings, as well as ensuring that all buildings will be in line with the 2050 climate neutrality requirements. Consequently, the EPBD will also be instrumental to implementing the REPowerEU plan, whose objective is to faster reduce the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels.

The electrification of heating and cooling in buildings will play a major role on the road to decarbonisation, as it will facilitate the switch from fossil fuel boilers to more sustainable electric solutions. The EPBD revision also stresses the need to develop e-mobility by implementing recharging points in buildings to support smart charging for electric vehicles.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to find out what can be done to improve the existing regulatory framework to support an effective decarbonisation process in the building sector. Discussed questions included:

- How the EPBD proposal could best contribute to the decarbonisation of the building sector?
- What are the technical challenges and solutions to electrifying the EU's building stock?
- What renovations in buildings can contribute to sustainable mobility?
- How to increase users’ awareness of their housing’s carbon footprint and of the low-carbon solutions that are available?