EU Develops Clean Industrial Strategy Amid Challenges

The European Union's Green Deal aims for carbon neutrality by 2050 but may inadvertently increase carbon emissions outside the EU by 244.8%, as shown in a study led by Klaus Hubacek. While the Green Deal promotes ecological measures, such as planting three billion trees, it fails to account for the global implications of land use changes needed for food production, potentially exporting emissions to regions like Africa and South America. Concurrently, EU officials are preparing a Clean Industrial Deal to enhance competitiveness and support the transition to climate neutrality, balancing protection for key industries with innovation. Mario Draghi emphasized the need for a nuanced approach to competition with China, advocating for selective openness to foreign technology while nurturing emerging European industries. This complex landscape of climate policy reflects growing concerns over EU competitiveness in the face of external pressures, particularly from China and the U.S.