Baltic Rim Economies 1/2022
Special issue on energy and environment
Published on the 28th of February 2022
The European Green Deal and its impact on the Baltic Sea Region
“The European Commission confirmed the European Green Deal as the top priority of this Commission already in December 2019. It sets out the key priorities to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, while ensuring that the transition is just and inclusive for all. This is, like President Ursula Von der Leyen said, Europe’s “man on the moon moment”. To get there, the EU has put into the law the higher target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions at least 55% by 2030, compared to 2020 levels.”
Kadri Simson
Commissioner for Energy
European Commission
The Greener the Deal, the Greener our Future
“Climate change remains one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Science has been very clear that we must strive to keep the global temperature rise to 1,5 degrees Celsius to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change. Although internationally progress was achieved in the context of the Glasgow Climate Pact, much work remains ahead of us to implement the promises we have made in Paris and in Glasgow.”
Artūrs Toms Plešs
Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development
Republic of Latvia
Don’t forget the blue over the green
“The European Green Deal is a well known European legislative framework. It gives principles and guidance on how to reach climate neutrality and an overall environment friendly approach within the EU legislation and everything which is linked to it such as funding criteria or quotas.”
Rasmus Andresen
Member of the European Parliament
Head of Delegation of the German Greens
European Green Deal and circular economy in Finland
“The greatest challenges of our time are climate change, loss of biodiversity and environmental pollution. By harming the climate and the environment, we are only harming ourselves. Nature or the atmosphere do not need people for anything, but people cannot do without a functioning ecosystem. Our wellbeing in the future is linked to meeting climate and environmental challenges.”
Saara-Sofia Sirén
MP, Member of Environment Committee and Grand Committee
Parliament of Finland