Following the European Parliament elections in June, the first six months of the newly formed parliament are dedicated to forming plans and teams. Brussels is gradually getting back to work.

After Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected as President of the European Commission in July for a second term, climate policy remains a central focus. The President is known for her support of Ukraine, and during her previous mandate, the EU Green Deal was established in response to public demand in 2019. However, in the last year before the elections, achieving the Green Deal’s goals came under significant scrutiny. Farmers and industries became opponents of climate targets, raising doubts about whether the Green Deal would remain on the agenda for the next term. This became a central topic of negotiation among EU member states during the election of the European Commission President.

The election of new European Commissioners involved a series of political consultations in which climate and industrial policies played a key role. It also involves a thorough coordination process between EU member states and party leaders in the European Parliament. This time, the structure of the European Commission includes new strategic directions, which vice presidents and commissioners will oversee.

During the election, some candidates were criticised for their ties to business and the fossil fuel industry, sparking concerns about their ability to act independently within the framework of ambitious climate policies. However, most of the candidates appointed to key positions were rigorously selected and committed to implementing the goals of the European Green Deal.

The next stage involves hearings in European Parliament committees, as the election has yet to finish. The commissioners will answer questions about their priorities, including potential conflicts of interest. This will ensure they are suitable for their designated roles. The hearings are scheduled for November.

Challenges for Climate and Environment in the New Commission

The new Commission aims to continue developing the European Green Deal to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. However, several challenges to its implementation exist, the greatest of which is inadequate financing of its initiatives.

At the same time, there is increasing attention to financial support for Europe’s most vulnerable regions, which are heavily dependent on fossil fuels. The Just Transition initiative aims to preserve jobs and foster the growth of new green industries. Teresa Ribera is set to lead this direction as Executive Vice-President for Clean, Fair, and Competitive Transition. Her experience as Spain’s Minister for Ecological Transition since 2018 gives hope that the EU will continue its active climate policy. However, concerns arise from the lack of sufficient funding through the Social Climate Fund and the Just Transition Fund, which may not cover all the needs for the transition. She is also a nuclear sceptic and does not support the development of this area, which may be an obstacle to her appointment. Some EU countries, like France, are interested in the development of nuclear energy, so it is expected that she may receive several questions about the development of nuclear generation at the hearing.

Once the commission is fully operational, work will begin on updating goals. The agenda will include revisions to the European Climate Law, setting a target of a 90% reduction in GHG emissions by 2040. A vital part of this process will be designing the framework to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Wopke Hoekstra, the Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero, and Clean Growth, will lead this effort.

Ukraine also awaits a review of its climate goals, with a new target set to be approved next year in accordance with the Paris Agreement. This target is expected to be more ambitious than the previous one. Currently, the national goal is a 65% reduction from 1990 levels, which is likely to be exceeded due to Russia’s destruction of Ukraine’s industry, which accounted for approximately 20% of national greenhouse gas emissions. Recent news also shows that Russia has destroyed all thermal and the largest hydroelectric power plants in Ukraine, with energy responsible for 40% of emissions.

Dan Jørgensen, the new Commissioner for Energy and Housing, will play a key role in energy security matters. Energy will be crucial for supporting industry, so despite the priority given to energy efficiency and renewables, technological neutrality must also be considered. This approach could increase the risk of further exploitation of nuclear energy and carbon capture technologies, which might jeopardise climate goals.

Technological neutrality means not favouring any specific technology to achieve climate goals. Instead of promoting particular energy sources, a technology-neutral approach allows different technologies, both renewable and fossil, to compete in the market.

For Ukraine, whose energy system is constantly under attack, it is crucial to reduce dependence on centralised energy systems, which are easy targets, and transition to decentralised renewable energy sources. Decentralised energy, based on solar, thermal, wind, and other renewables, will ensure energy independence and enhance resilience during Russian attacks. It also enables rapid recovery with minimal financial losses after such attacks.

Teresa Ribera and Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, will lead the new “Clean Industrial Agreement” plan, which will aim to harmonise climate and industrial policies. However, a tilt toward industry could jeopardise the goals of the Green Deal.

Discussions about deregulation are underway, which could create additional environmental risks. Simplifying legislation and reducing regulatory pressure could weaken environmental standards, which is particularly dangerous for Ukraine, as it needs a clear climate strategy and support in rebuilding infrastructure to EU standards.

Role of Ukraine

One of the critical lessons Ukraine could learn from the EU is cross-sectoral collaboration between various economic sectors and political forces to achieve a common climate goal. In the EU, environmental, economic, and social interests are coordinated across different levels of governance and political platforms, with close engagement of civil society allowing for common solutions to complex problems. In the meantime, Ukraine lacks integration between different sectors, which makes it challenging to implement climate policy effectively. Ukraine should strengthen cooperation between ministries, civil society and businesses to implement large-scale environmental reforms.

As a candidate country for EU membership, Ukraine must prepare for active participation. One challenge for Ukraine is synchronising its climate policy with the EU, developing renewable energy, and decarbonising industry. Ukraine’s recovery requires solutions ensuring minimal environmental impact to avoid exacerbating a critical situation.

Ukrainian policymakers must closely follow potential changes in the European regulatory environment and maintain high environmental standards during reconstruction. They must also focus on finding common solutions across sectors to achieve a unified goal. This will ensure alignment with EU policies and promote the sustainable development of Ukraine’s economy in the long term.

This article originally appeared in European Pravda.