The Green Deal, five years in: what's actually happening
Emissions are down, but the politics got messier. A plain-English check-in on Europe's climate plan and where it's stalling.
By Euvo Editorial Team
When the European Commission unveiled the Green Deal in 2019, it was pitched as Europe's man-on-the-moon moment. Half a decade later, the picture is more complicated (and more interesting) than the headlines suggest.
The good news: EU emissions have fallen roughly 8% since 2019, and renewables now generate more electricity than fossil fuels across the bloc for the first time.
The messy news: individual files keep getting watered down. The nature restoration law barely passed. Combustion-engine rules for 2035 are being re-litigated. Farmers have staged tractor protests in a dozen capitals.
The next test is the 2040 target. Brussels wants a 90% cut in emissions. Getting there will need cheaper clean tech, serious grid upgrades, and — probably — a much better story for the people being asked to change how they heat, drive, and eat.
