Dear Reader,
Welcome to Publyon’s monthly Sustainability Newsletter! In this edition, we’re excited to bring you up to speed on the latest steps in the EU’s green journey. With the European Commission’s confirmation hearings in progress, we look at Jessika Roswall, the nominee for Environment and Circular Economy, and her balanced approach to supporting both sustainability and business growth.
And as the world heads to COP29 in Baku, we’ll be following the conversations around climate finance, adaptation, and resilience. There’s lots to unpack, and we’re here to make it all easy to understand and relevant for you. Enjoy reading, and as always, thank you for staying connected with us!
WEBINAR: 2024 United States elections
Wednesday, 13 November 2024
16:00 – 17:00 CET | 10:00 – 11:00 EST
Before you move on, perhaps you remember our series of ‘beyond the ballot’ webinars where we took a deep dive into the political elections within the EU? Now it’s time to cross the continental border to land in the US where we will soon find out who will enter the White House next. BlueStar Strategies and Publyon EU are thrilled to once again reunite for another timely and insightful webinar – this time focused on the US elections’ results and their consequences on the domestic political dynamics and the US-EU relations.
The spotlight
What’s ahead for the EU’s Green Agenda – Nominees hearing
As the European Commission’s confirmation hearings approach, all eyes are on Jessika Roswall, nominee for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy who’s facing her own hearing on 5 November.
With an agenda aimed at balancing environmental goals with economic competitiveness, Roswall faces the challenge of advancing Europe’s circular economy while addressing sector-specific complexities in plastics, batteries, and textiles. Her proposed Circular Economy Act emphasises market support for secondary raw materials, uniform ecodesign standards, and incentives for sustainable business practices. This vision not only aims to streamline regulatory frameworks across EU Member States but also seeks to bolster sectors like agriculture and forestry through initiatives that reward sustainable practices without compromising profitability.
For businesses, Roswall’s confirmation could signal a more pragmatic, industry-inclusive approach to Europe’s green agenda. Her plans to tackle water resilience, pollution, and chemical regulation reflect a commitment to enforcing existing legislation and supporting clean industry innovation. Companies that can align with this agenda—demonstrating both sustainability and competitiveness—will be well-positioned as the EU shapes its regulatory landscape for the years ahead.
Find a detailed overview of future initiatives in our extensive analysis of Roswall’s promises.
Policy update
As the world converges on Baku for COP29, the stakes for global climate action have never been higher.
In this edition of our sustainability newsletter, we’re gearing up for COP29, set to take place from 11 – 22 November in Baku, Azerbaijan. This 29th Conference of the Parties (COP) aims to tackle three vital climate challenges that are crucial for our planet:
- Transitioning to Clean Energy: The conference will prioritise efforts to limit global warming to below 1.5° C by 2030, focusing on the shift to renewable energy sources.
- Supporting Vulnerable Communities: COP29 will address the pressing need to support communities facing the impacts of climate change, ensuring their resilience and capacity to adapt.
- Delivering on Climate Finance Commitments: A key topic will be the fulfilment of past climate finance promises, particularly for developing nations, and making sure that financing for climate initiatives is affordable and accessible.
European Union’s position on COP29
As we approach COP29, European institutions have come together to draft a joint European statement, with the European Commission asserting that it has secured an ambitious negotiation mandate. So, what are the EU’s key priorities for Baku, and is the EU’s position really that ambitious?
- Reaffirming climate leadership: The EU will reaffirm its leadership in the process by sustaining political momentum and advocating for increased global efforts in both ambition and implementation to ensure the 1.5°C target remains achievable.
- Strengthening commitments: There is a pressing need for reinforced commitments from COP28 to phase down fossil fuels and to encourage more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2025.
- Advancing climate finance goals: The EU aims to advance the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance, pushing for a minimum of $100 billion annually to support climate initiatives in developing countries.
- Finalising carbon trading: The focus will also be on finalising negotiations related to international carbon trading and enhancing measures for climate adaptation.
The EU’s stance at COP29 is anchored in concrete policy initiatives, particularly the Clean Industrial Deal, which sets ambitious targets for industrial decarbonisation and achieving climate neutrality by 2050 while boosting European competitiveness. This comprehensive approach includes specific measures such as directing investments toward energy-intensive sectors, accelerating planning and permitting processes, and creating lead markets for clean technologies from steel to renewables.
The EU has, however, faced criticism for not presenting more ambitious and concrete plans ahead of COP29. Some organisations argue that the EU should take stronger action, such as fully phasing out fossil fuels rather than merely phasing them down or establishing a firm net-zero target by 2040.
As COP29 approaches, there are many uncertainties, and we’ll have to wait and see whether the EU can inspire the global community to step up on climate action. One thing is, however, certain: Publyon EU will keep you updated on all key developments!
Blog
EU Deforestation-free Products Regulation: the impact on businesses
In October, the European Commission proposed a 12-month extension for the implementation of the EUDR. Businesses have a crucial (but limited) window to ensure compliance with strict deforestation-free standards.
READ ARTICLE
Eliza Druta
Hi, my name is Eliza and I am curating this newsletter to bring Brussels’ main sustainability insights to your inbox, every month. Do not hesitate to reach out should you need more information on the newsletter’s content or if you have suggestions for our next editions.
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