A service of the

Forum

Europe's Path to Net Zero Emissions


The European Union has set an ambitious target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, while at the same time ensuring economic and social sustainability. The European Green Deal lays out a path towards realising this target, accelerating policy change that touches upon many aspects of the economy and society. What are the main challenges to the implementation of the European Green Deal? What are the costs and benefi ts of decarbonisation? Which industrial policy is needed to turn decarbonisation into an economic opportunity for Europe? How to finance the transition to a low-carbon economy? Which trade policy instruments could create incentives for more climate protection? This Forum seeks to answer these questions, discussing the key issues and reviewing the different policy perspectives on climate change mitigation in the European Union.

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Forum

Green Industrial Policy

An industrial revolution against a deadline - this is how some refer to the European Green Deal's goal of making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. To be successful requires a broad, paradigmatic shift for the European industry representing one of the most significant socio-economic transformations in history, write Simone Tagliapietra and Reinhilde Veugelers.

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Letter from America

America’s Polarized Politics of Climate Change

Americans are more polarized politically than ever before and this has translated into indecision as to how to address climate change. What then will drive US strategy? As with many issues in the US, the markets will drive action, write John Furlow and Mélody Braun. While progress at the national level is unsteady, increasing commitments from the private sector and real dedication and leadership from cities and states have yielded results. As Winston Churchill said, “Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing, once they have exhausted all other possibilities.”

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Editor's Choice

Inflation Risk?

Inflation is on the rise again in the industrialised world. This has led to fears of a sustained surge in inflation. Paul de Grauwe argues that while such fears may make sense in the US, they do not in the eurozone, where the monetary-fiscal policy mix has been much less expansionary than in the US.

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Conference

EU Fiscal Rules

EU Fiscal Rules

Intereconomics and the Centre for European Policy Studies' annual conference, this year entitled, Redesigning EU Fiscal Rules After COVID-19 was held virtually on 30 November. Participants included Carlos Cuerpo, Klaus Regling, Philippa Sigl-Glöckner, Roel Beetsma, Catherine Mathieu, Sebastian Barnes and Cinzia Alcidi.

Watch the conference via YouTube

Editorial

The Glasgow Climate Pact

With close to 40,000 participants, COP26 in Glasgow was the largest UN climate conference ever - demonstrating the appetite of the global climate policy community to engage after nearly two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, writes Axel Michaelowa. While there was high drama in the final plenary in the form of various “huddles” involving the African Group who wanted to ensure adaptation funding and China and India’s rewording on coal subsidy reduction or elimination, US climate envoy John Kerry masterfully worked the room and ensured that all negotiation threads were followed in a coordinated manner. The surprise US-China declaration stating that the two countries wanted a successful outcome on the Paris Rulebook was a welcome addition to a productive conference.

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