The European green deal

In December 2019, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen introduced the European Green Deal, which she qualified as “Europe’s ‘man on the moon’ moment”. The strategy represents a clear commitment to climate neutrality by 2050 and a transformation of the European economy to fit with this ambition. It seeks to bring climate and sustainability concerns into all aspects of EU policy, both internal and external. At the same time, the strategy and its implementation have been bolstered by the increasing urgency of environmental crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, and war in Ukraine. This course therefore looks at the origins of the European Green Deal, its contents, and the ensuing legislation and implementation. In doing so, we will discuss its relevance, conditions shaping it, its effectiveness, and impact on the EU as an international actor. The objective of the class therefore is to use the European Green Deal as a tool to deepen our understanding of EU environmental governance, the EU’s ability to deliver a prosperous future for its citizens, and the Union’s place in the world.