According to the European Commission: “The main goal of the European New Deal is to harness the significant potential in global markets for low-emission technologies, sustainable products and services in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Achieving a climate neutral and circular economy requires the full mobilization of industry.”

“The European Green Deal set the blueprint for this transformational change. All 27 EU Member States committed to turning the EU into the first climate neutral continent by 2050. To get there, they pledged to reduce emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. 

This will create new opportunities for innovation and investment and jobs, as well as:

• reduce emissions
• create jobs and growth
• address energy poverty
• reduce external energy dependency
• improve our health and wellbeing”.

Main possible actions at local level:

• local development plans to follow an integrated approach to climate and sustainability, through the spatial planning system.
• shape the local autonomy and multi-level governance to contribute to more effective implementation of EU-level priorities as provided by the European New Deal.
• develop the socio-economic issues such as housing policy, health, and energy poverty to be more integrated in local planning, in order to achieve the European Green Deal’s ambitions for a more equal society that addresses inter-related social, economic and environmental sustainability challenges.
• cities and rural settlement should be active players in climate policy,  work on developing supporting groups and more actively influence  both national and EU level policies, that address the climate policy issues.
• cities and rural settlements to ensure proper consultation with citizens and stakeholders on climate policies and planning issues. (adapted from 3]).