European lawmakers today presented the first ever EU-wide Climate Law designed to accelerate the continent’s EU Green Deal ambitions.
Europe’s Green Deal plans include mobilising more than €1 trillion over this decade and spending a quarter of all EU funding on supporting climate measures. The strategy is part of a pioneering policy drive and culture being spearheaded by Ursula von der Leyen, who was elected as the first female President of the European Commission last summer. In her inaugural speech she said: Europe can be the first climate-neutral continent.
Building on that pledge the Commission today put forward its plans for a European Climate Law to enshrine in legislation the EU’s commitment to be climate-neutral by 2050.
President Ursula von der Leyen said: “We are acting today to make the EU the world’s first climate neutral continent by 2050. The Climate Law is the legal translation of our political commitment, and sets us irreversibly on the path to a more sustainable future. It is the heart of the European Green Deal. It offers predictability and transparency for European industry and investors. And it gives direction to our green growth strategy and guarantees that the transition will be gradual and fair.”
The European Green Deal is driving this mission, with policies and investments focussed on fast-tracking positive outcomes for citizens and the natural environment. As well as taking steps such as the EU-wide Climate Law, priority is also being given to harnessing the power of frontier technologies in the quest to build a sustainable Europe.
Robbert Fisher, an expert contributor on AI and EU policy for Innovators Magazine, said: “The EU green deal addresses a broad range of policy areas, from clean and better use of energy to sustainable mobility and sustainable food systems. Most of these areas are increasingly data driven, and AI is essential to reap the full benefits of the massive amounts of data, make the required progress and reach the policy objectives.”
He added: “In other areas, AI will bring significant progress in fields such as climate modeling and simulation. For example, by offering climate disaster mitigation, where massive amounts of data exist and AI-based decision support systems will allow for faster and more accurate responses.”
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