Services of general interest will be crucial for a fair climate ambition by 2040, says SGI Europe

On Tuesday 6 February 2024, the European Commission published its communication “Securing our future: Europe's 2040 climate target and path to climate neutrality by 2050 building a sustainable, just and prosperous society”. Recommending a net reduction target of 90% by 2040, this communication sets a new intermediary target to ensure a climate-neutral EU by 2050.

Following the publication of the communication, Valeria Ronzitti, Secretary General of SGI Europe, commented:

“SGI Europe welcomes the signal sent by the European Commission on the need to successfully implement the EU climate targets and remodel the EU economy towards more sustainability. The Climate Law requires the EU to be climate-neutral by 2050. The way to get there is full of challenges; intermediary targets must pave the way to reach this goal and achieve it both fairly and in an economically viable way. SGIs will be instrumental in keeping that balance.”

“In a competitive geopolitical context, SGI enterprises need long-term predictability, stable investments, and a coherent legal framework more than ever. SGI Europe welcomes the overdue acknowledgement in that communication that the EU’s resolve to become the first climate-neutral continent can only materialise with an inclusive strategy built around a structured dialogue with key economic and social partners. SGI Europe commits to be a proactive and constructive partner in the structured dialogue with EU social partners proposed in the communication.”

In order to reach the 90% net reduction target by 2040, SGI Europe recalls that:

• SGIs will play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change while ensuring that sustainable development's social, economic, and environmental dimensions are balanced. As EU cross-industry social partners, SGI Europe calls for the European Commission to immediately start the structural dialogue with the EU Social Partners proposed in the communication.
• The EU framework must be technology-neutral and emission-reduction orientated, applying a “Carbon reduction efficiency first” principle, a fair deployment for all low- and decarbonised technologies, and adapting the ETS to have a cost-effective decarbonisation.
• Creating a financial framework that enables SGIs through better funding opportunities combining EU funds, public and private investments to develop European critical infrastructures and create technological independence.