Commission President Unveils European Green Deal

Addis Ababa, December 12, 2019 (FBC) -The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced the European Green Deal – an ambitious plan to make the EU’s economy sustainable.

The European Green Deal provides a roadmap with actions to boost the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean, circular economy and stop climate change.

In her remarks, Ursula von der Leyen expressed her concern over the existential threat of climate change that the whole world is beginning to see.

“Forests burn from America to Australia. Deserts are advancing across Africa and Asia. Rising sea levels threaten our European cities as well as Pacific islands. Mankind has seen such phenomena before, but never at this speed,” she said.

“In addition to climate-induced drought often witnessed, currently, Ethiopia is experiencing untimely rain which compromises its harvesting season. Science tells us that we can still stop this epidemic, but we are running out of time.”

“The new European Commission is wasting no time. Today, (Dec.10) less than two weeks into our mandate, we present our roadmap for a European Green Deal.”

She said EU’s goal is to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, slowing down global warming and mitigating its effects.

The European Green Deal is Europe’s new growth strategy and will cut emissions while also creating jobs and improving quality of life, she said.

“With our Green Deal we want to invest in clean energy and extend emission trading, but we will also boost the circular economy and preserve Europe’s biodiversity,” von der Leyen

People young and old across the globe are asking for climate action and joining global movement for climate, she said, citing Ethiopia’s go green campaign as an example.

“Last year, Ethiopia reported to have planted more than 350 million trees in 12 hours beating world record and a comprehensive 4 billion trees during the year,” she noted.

She said the European Green Deal is a response to peoples who are asking for decisive climate action.