This Communication presents a European Green Deal for the European Union (EU) and its citizens. It underscores the Commission’s determination to address the climate and environmental challenges that define this generation. The atmosphere is warming, and the climate is changing year by year. One million of the eight million species on Earth face the threat of extinction. Forests and oceans are being polluted and destroyed.

The European Green Deal is a response to these challenges. It is a new growth strategy aimed at transforming the EU into a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy, a fair and prosperous society, where net greenhouse gas emissions are zero by 2050 and economic growth is decoupled from resource use.

It also aims to protect, preserve, and enhance the EU’s natural capital and safeguard citizens’ health and well-being from environmental risks and impacts. At the same time, the transition must be fair and inclusive. People must come first, and attention must be given to the regions, sectors, and workers who face the greatest challenges. Since the transition will bring significant change, public engagement and trust in the process are essential for policies to work and gain acceptance. A new deal is needed to bring together citizens in all their diversity, national, regional, and local authorities, civil society, and industry, working closely with EU institutions and advisory bodies.

The EU has the collective capacity to transform its economy and society onto a more sustainable path. It can strengthen its global leadership in climate and environmental action, consumer protection, and workers’ rights. Achieving additional emission reductions is a challenging task. It will require increased efforts to direct significant public investments and private capital towards climate and environmental actions while avoiding unsustainable practices. The EU must be at the forefront of coordinating international efforts to create a coherent financial system supporting sustainable solutions. This upfront investment is also an opportunity to firmly set Europe on the new path of sustainable and inclusive growth. The European Green Deal will accelerate and support the transition needed across all sectors.

The environmental goals of the Green Deal cannot be achieved by Europe acting alone. The causes of climate change and biodiversity loss are global and not limited by national borders. The EU can use its influence, expertise, and financial resources to encourage neighbors and partners to join it on a sustainable path. The EU will continue to lead international efforts and seeks to form alliances with like-minded partners. It also recognizes the need to safeguard supply security and competitiveness, even if others are slow to act.

This Communication provides an initial roadmap for the key policies and measures required to achieve the European Green Deal. It will be updated as needs evolve and policy responses are formulated. All EU actions and policies must contribute to the Green Deal objectives. Issues are complex and interlinked. Policy responses must be bold and comprehensive, maximizing benefits in terms of health, quality of life, resilience, and competitiveness. Fully exploiting synergies across all policy areas will require intensive coordination.

The Green Deal is an integral part of the Commission’s strategy to implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals, and other priorities outlined in President von der Leyen’s political guidelines. As part of the Green Deal, the Commission will integrate the UN Sustainable Development Goals, refocus the European Semester macroeconomic coordination process to place sustainability and citizens’ well-being at the center of economic policy, and ensure sustainable development objectives are at the heart of EU policy-making and action.