Leading companies in the wind power sector, including Siemens Gamesa, Vestas and Orsted, are among 157 businesses calling on the EU to set more ambitious climate goals as the region seeks to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The letter called for a clear greenhouse gas reduction target of 55% by 2030, submitting resilient recovery plans that enable the green investments needed to deliver climate neutrality and endorse the ambition set out in the European Green Deal.
“The increased ambition for 2030 should also be expressed in an increased EU Nationally Determined Contribution released in time to submit to the UNFCCC before the end of 2020,” it said.
“What we urgently need to see next is an ambitious implementation of the recovery package focused on achieving a green and digital transition, with the European Green Deal at its core and an elevated short-term emissions reduction target in its sights,” the signatories said.
“This implies both a ‘green stimulus’ of public spending and investment, and market signals to incentivise private investment and steer it towards green outcomes,” they added.
The letter said that making the right decisions now can “help create and protect healthy, thriving and fair communities and secure a roadmap for a prosperous economy”.
But it added that delivering Europe’s long-term ambition to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050 will require an “extensive set of urgent measures to scale up action”.
It said: “From a business and investor perspective, clarity on the net zero transition pathway and timetables for each sector, as well as policy that enables substantial investments in carbon neutral solutions is essential.
“This in turn would provide us with the confidence needed to invest decisively at the necessary pace and scale to reduce emissions, create decent green jobs, drive innovation, and accelerate the rebuilding of a resilient zero carbon economy.”
Other companies signing the letter include Vattenfall, Eneco, Engie, Acciona, EDF, EDP, Iberdrola, RWE Renewables, Statkraft, Apple and Google.