Europe’s future competitiveness, prosperity and resilience will solely be achieved with local weather motion based mostly on working collectively throughout sectors and empowering communities.
On 30 September 2025, greater than 1,600 individuals took half in a high-level convention beneath the heading Local weather motion that works for you: an agenda for competitiveness, prosperity and resilience.
The occasion gathered policymakers, enterprise leaders, and civil society to mirror on present local weather insurance policies and to additional increase studying and cooperation for elevated impression. With President von der Leyen and Commissioner Hoekstra among the many audio system from the Fee aspect, the day provided a second of reflection and dialogue on the way forward for local weather motion.
The occasion got here at a major juncture: ten years after the Paris Settlement, six years into the European Inexperienced Deal, and on the eve of adoption of the EU’s 2040 local weather goal. It was designed to take inventory of the progress made to date by companies, governments and communities throughout Europe, and deepen the hyperlink between local weather motion, financial competitiveness, and societal resilience.
With round 40 audio system, 12 exhibitors presenting EU initiatives on local weather motion, and alternatives for all individuals to hitch the dialogue, the occasion offered wealthy insights into stakeholders’ views on local weather coverage and motion throughout all sectors of society. The inputs, summarised in key takeaways under, will feed into the additional improvement of EU local weather coverage and continued exchanges with all stakeholders.
Local weather motion on the core of Europe’s response to new challenges
“Quickly, the world will collect for COP30. Our message shall be clear: Europe is staying the course. However to ship on that, we want all of you. Collectively, we are going to make Europe not solely the primary climate-neutral continent, but in addition essentially the most aggressive, affluent, and safe.”
Ursula von der Leyen, president, European Fee
Audio system all through the day underlined that internet zero transition and local weather motion are far more than ecological imperatives – they’re additionally sources of competitiveness, power independence and sovereignty in in the present day’s difficult – even hostile – financial and geopolitical context.
The commercial competitiveness and modernisation related to the clear transition, and Europe’s positioning within the world economic system, had been additionally among the many most frequent themes within the questions from the individuals throughout the occasion, prompting the audio system to react to points akin to how the EU may help guarantee truthful competitors in clear applied sciences, keep away from provide chain dependencies, or adapt its local weather diplomacy approaches to new geopolitical realities.
Clear coverage indicators and the appropriate situations for the transition
Audio system underlined the significance of clear, predictable and steady coverage frameworks to assist the transition. Companies and public our bodies throughout the EU have launched into the journey however want regulatory certainty and funding safety to plan for the long run and direct efforts to the place they matter essentially the most.
Some individuals expressed issues in regards to the perceived wavering of the EU’s local weather ambition, whereas others harassed the significance of pursuing long-term targets whereas easing the transition for individuals who face challenges. Discovering the appropriate stability between simplification and clear regulation is essential.
“We keep the course on local weather targets, while we welcome methods to make the proposal [for the EU’s 2040 emissions reduction target] work higher. We have to be sure that local weather options develop into extra beneficial, enticing and cost-effective.”
Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Local weather, Web Zero and Clear Development
Many additionally famous that the net-zero transition is advancing, however erratically throughout Member States, areas and sectors. Insurance policies have to be clearly communicated, and take into account the various financial and social circumstances that may both unlock alternatives or hinder progress. Pragmatism might want to information implementation, making use of native experience and creativity, and leaving no-one behind.
“In the event you go searching, there’s a totally different tempo in every Member State. (…) It isn’t one-size-fits-all.”
Danuše Nerudová, Member of the European Parliament, European Individuals’s Occasion (EPP)
Europe’s clear tech future will depend on clear guidelines, sensible investments, citizen buy-in, and powerful collaboration throughout international locations and industries. Key enablers to speed up the clear transition embrace simpler entry to funding, infrastructure improvement, electrical energy market reform, sooner allowing, and assist for scaling up applied sciences like hydrogen and inexperienced metal.
Concrete examples – from warmth pump adoption in Czechia to large-scale clear metal investments in Sweden – illustrated how the correct mix of supportive situations helps make the advantages of the transition felt by residents and companies alike.
Collaboration throughout Member States, provide chains and between massive and small enterprises was additionally seen as important to unfold profitable fashions and innovation pockets past nationwide borders.
Aligning funding and financial incentives with local weather targets
When requested how we will finest speed up in the direction of a net-zero economic system, individuals prioritised mobilising funding aligned with local weather targets (57%) and securing inexpensive clear power (44%).
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Entry to inexpensive capital emerged as a cross-cutting precedence to unlock decarbonisation investments and guarantee EU competitiveness. Predictable funding and modern financing mechanisms to derisk investments are necessary to assist bridge price gaps and scale up applied sciences like inexperienced hydrogen and low-carbon metal.
Audio system famous that power costs stay a priority for each trade and shoppers. Finishing the reform of the power market and enhancing power effectivity are wanted to counter excessive power payments and assist industries maintain cost-efficient manufacturing in Europe.
EU insurance policies and regulation additionally play a task in supporting the emergence of steady lead markets and market indicators that assist reinforce industrial and shopper demand for clear merchandise, for instance by means of demand-pull devices like harmonised requirements or public procurement standards.
“SMEs are the spine of Europe’s economic system, we have to additionally give attention to them, not solely on the large gamers. Let’s assist them see sustainability not as a burden however as a chance.”
Nađa Dizdarević, CEO and Co-Founder, Coolect
Factoring in local weather dangers and constructing resilience
“It has develop into clear that local weather volatility has stopped being an summary theoretical concern and has develop into a enterprise actuality.”
Erika Blanckaert, Senior Public Affairs Supervisor – Head of Sustainability, Make investments Europe
Europe is already hit arduous by the impacts of local weather change, and the dangers are projected to extend. Prioritising local weather resilience by design and anticipating dangers is essential to maintain residents and communities secure and assist Europe’s economic system keep sturdy and aggressive in the long term. By way of macro-economics, it additionally makes extra sense to put money into prevention than pay for restoration.
When requested how we will finest speed up in the direction of a climate-resilient society, defending and restoring nature (57%) emerged as the highest precedence for individuals.
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Audio system highlighted that local weather dangers have gotten an integral a part of decision-making for corporations, monetary establishments, and public authorities, as evidenced for instance by a doubling within the variety of companies choosing pure disaster insurance coverage previously 12 months.
Monetary establishments play a key position in directing capital to future-proof private and non-private investments. A strategic strategy to local weather resilience also can drive innovation and development because the ecosystem of enabling services and products expands – with alternatives in areas like resilient infrastructure, adaptive agriculture, or superior water administration.
“Kicking the can down the highway, procrastinating, is extra expensive. It should solely result in extra market volatility, extra drastic measures having to be taken. If banks can handle [climate and nature-related] dangers properly, they may also have the ability to value them properly, after which cash will stream in an environment friendly and efficient method to funding that can permit the transition to happen.”
Frank Elderson, Member of the Govt Board, European Central Financial institution
Actual-world options present the best way, within the EU and globally
“Local weather motion remains to be extensively perceived as a constraint on our economic system, on our lives. We have to rework it right into a mission of progress. Why does local weather motion work for all? That is what we have to exhibit. We have to transcend the speeches and discourses, and we all know we have to present it concretely.”
François Gemenne, Professor, École des Hautes Études Commerciales de Paris (HEC) & Director, The Hugo Observatory, College of Liège
Changemakers from enterprise, native authorities, and civil society shared sensible options and modern approaches to advance local weather motion that delivers financial and social advantages, starting from renewable power options and round enterprise fashions to nature-based adaptation initiatives and sustainable city mobility.
Audio system introduced examples of services and products aligned with the transition. For instance, environment friendly insulation helps cut back constructing emissions whereas reducing power payments for shoppers and tackling power poverty. Younger entrepreneurs inspired SMEs to have a look at local weather insurance policies as a supply for concepts to innovate new merchandise or optimise operations, for instance by means of efficient ESG reporting.
Discussions additionally addressed the problem of turning public concern about local weather become motion on the bottom: there’s a clear majority of residents supporting local weather motion that must be amplified. To achieve success, measures have to be designed with shut involvement of native communities. A recurring theme was the significance of fostering collaboration and replicating profitable fashions to scale impression.
“By getting individuals on board, you generally is a lot extra bold and get much more performed.”
Baptist Vlaeminck, Life PACT mission coordinator, metropolis of Leuven, Belgium
Lastly, the dialog highlighted the necessity for world partnerships and sustainable commerce, demonstrating that collaboration throughout areas and sectors can have a number of and mutual advantages whereas reducing emissions.
Stakeholders contributing to EU Local weather Dialogues with Canada, South Korea and India showcased how sensible, multi-stakeholder dialogues can translate ambition into motion – from methane discount and offshore wind improvement to industrial decarbonisation. Members highlighted the enterprise case for the clear transition, stressing that shared studying, native adaptation, and sustainable provide chains are important.
Conclusion
The occasion reconfirmed and re-enforced the European Fee’s dedication to attaining local weather neutrality and resilience by 2050, and the broad assist that exists for this work. The conversations emphasised the combination of environmental targets with financial development and social fairness.
Audio system underlined the significance of innovation, coverage stability, and personal sector engagement in driving the clear transition. Showcased local weather initiatives demonstrated the tangible advantages and feasibility of sustainable initiatives, emphasising native empowerment and neighborhood engagement.
The discussions harassed the necessity for clear monetary frameworks and sturdy reporting to align investments with local weather goals and handle dangers successfully.
Total, the occasion known as for continued collaboration throughout all sectors to advance a sustainable future by means of sensible options, world partnerships, and grassroots efforts. The EU will proceed to guide by instance within the world combat towards local weather change and make local weather motion give you the results you want.
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