In 2020, under the framework of the European Green Deal, the European Union (EU) committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 as part of the Climate Law 2021/1119. The target was proposed in December 2019 alongside the EU Green Deal, and is an increase in ambition from the EU’s previous 2009 aim to reduce emissions by 80-95% by 2050. The legislation includes measures to track progress and review progress every five years. The law also proposed a new 2030 target to reduce emissions by at least 55%, and for existing policy to be reviewed in line with the new ambition for 2030.
After predominantly supportive corporate and industry lobbying on the policy the high ambition of the legislation was upheld.
Alignment with IPCC on Climate Action
Inactive: completed
The bill was approved May-June 2021 and entered into force in July 2021.
Alignment with IPCC on Climate Action
Inactive: completed
The bill was approved May-June 2021 and entered into force in July 2021.
On 2nd November, the German chemicals association Verband der Chemischen Industrie (VCI) published an evaluation of the EU Green Deal. In the text the association generally supported the EU’s 2050 target, but expressed major concerns about different elements of the EU ETS reform, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, Energy Efficiency Directive and Renewable Energy Directive.
In a declaration to the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council on 25th November, the Presidents of BusinessEurope, VNO-NCW, Mouvement des Entreprises de France, Confederation of Business Industry, Federation of German Industries, and Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations supported deploying additional fossil gas capacity in Europe as well as renewable, nuclear and 'low-carbon' energy to respond to the energy crisis, whilst emphasizing the risk of deindustrialization from the EU’s decarbonization.
In a position paper on measures to boost competitiveness published in November 2021, the Confederación Española de Organizaciones Empresariales (CEOE) stressed that the EU’s 2050 net zero target can only be achieved while maintaining competitiveness and preserving jobs. The paper also supported the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on the condition that it exclusively aims to support competitiveness and reduce the risk of carbon leakage. However, it supported the completion of Spain’s integrated railway corridors through the Trans-European Network - Transport (TEN-T) and [885318 advocated for energy efficiency investment.
Several trade associations, including CEFIC, CEPI, COGEN Europe, IFIEC, SolarPower Europe and Wind Europe, released a joint statement to EU policymakers, demanding affordable clean energy be placed at the forefront of European Industry. The groups called for measures to support access to energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions, while declaring its support to the EU’s Green Deal ambitions to reach climate neutrality by 2050.
The table below lists the entities found to be most engaged with the policy. The entities are ranked by performance band. InfluenceMap tracks over 400 companies and 200 industry associations globally. Each entity name links to its full InfluenceMap profile, where the evidence of its engagement can be found.
| Influencemap Performance Band | Organization | Policy Position | Policy Engagement Intensity |
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