In 2018, the European Commission launched the European Green Deal, aiming to make the EU the world’s first climate-neutral continent. Yet, momentum is fading. Member State resistance is growing, and the European Environment Agency warns that stronger action is needed to meet the ambitious climate goals. On September 18, EU environment ministers will meet in Brussels to debate the Commission’s newly proposed 90% emissions cut by 2040, a proposal which has already met strong criticism from green organisations, due to its reliance on foreign carbon credits as part of the solution. While there are growing worries about the EP's position, due to the influential role of the far-right EP group Patriots for Europe, the target is also likely to face stiff opposition amongst certain EU Member States amid rising geopolitical and military pressures. However, Denmark’s current Presidency of the Council offers a glimmer of hope, thanks to both its comparatively strong green credentials and its prioritization of accelerating the green transition in the Presidency programme.

This seminar explores the EU’s biggest climate challenges, the status of the Green Deal, and the political tug-of-war over the bloc’s environmental future.

A separate link for online participation will be sent to your email after the deadline

Participants: 
Chair: Malayna Raftopoulos (Department of Politics and Society, AAU) 

Speakers:

• Dr. Hans-Martin Füssel, Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Expert at European Environment Agency 
• Anita Nissen, Post Doc at Department of Politics and Society, Aalborg University 

Coffee and cake will be served