EU Green Deal Background

What is clear by now is that this Green Deal is a flagship policy that will drive the European Commission action for the next years in all sectors of the economy and the industry, and will have consequences for fire safety. It is therefore crucial for us to investigate how it will influence the areas impacting fire safety and see how this Green Deal can be an opportunity to achieve our aim to improve fire safety.

Here’s what you should know on the EU Green Deal background:

It will involve all the European Commission’s Directorates-General and all the sectors of the economy. The European Commission has however, pinpointed some sectors as responsible of a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions, such as “transport, buildings, agriculture, energy production”; the EU Green Deal roadmap pays particular attention to those. All policy levers will be used: regulation, standardisation, investment and innovation etc. Hence, this core policy, which has been defined as “Europe’s new growth strategy” by the European Commission. It aims at strengthening the EU’s adaptation strategy to climate change and is an integral part of the its plan to implement the UN’s 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals. The European Commission has stressed the need to make sure this transition is inclusive and that progress should be measurable and accountability ensured. In an effort to include citizens, the EC will launch a European Climate Pact by March 2020 to focus on ways to engage with the public on climate action.The Commission has estimated that achieving the current 2030 climate and energy targets will require EUR 260 billion of additional annual investment, about 1.5% of 2018 GDP. In early 2020 the EC will present a Sustainable Europe Investment Plan, the EU budget and the activities of the European Investment Bank will support this plan as well as national sources.

For more information on how the Green Deal will impact buildings and fire safety, check out these documents.