Global Green Deal
The European Green Deal (EGD) is a landmark policy framework, positioning the European Union as a leader in the transition to a more sustainable future and to climate neutrality by 2050. Given its long-term perspective, the EGD must be continuously complemented and improved in order to ensure it is fulfilling its initial objectives. One of the most pressing needs is to ensure the EGD doesn’t lead to negative impacts globally, particularly in countries of the Global South. Although addressing the international production of goods and services for the EU market, the EGD does too little to protect and involve smallholder farmers, workers, and SMEs of trading partners in the global endeavour towards climate neutrality. Countries trading with the EU are affected by huge spillover effects, in the form of soil and air pollution, deforestation or improper working conditions, highlighting the need for a more inclusive approach that promotes global equity and sustainability. To keep its relevance and ensure it can positively inspire similar policy developments outside the EU, the EGD must be transformed to intertwine global and European dimensions, ensuring that the benefits, responsibilities, and rights are shared equally between EU and non-EU countries.
Our View
The Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO), in partnership with SOLIDAR, Fairtrade International, and the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), is advocating for a Global Green Deal that builds on the EGD’s framework but corrects its shortcomings regarding its global social and environmental impacts. Concrete proposals for policy adaptations are outlined in the Call To Action to a Global Green Deal. To make this vision a reality, we have been calling on policymakers, civil society, and businesses to join us in shaping and championing this transformative agenda. Ambassadors from several non-EU countries have supported the Global Green Deal approach, which has also been endorsed by members of the European Parliament's Fair Trade Working Group, which consists of MEPs from different political families and member states. In addition, the European Committee of the Regions has recently called on the EU to defend a similar project of a Global Green Deal in its official COP29 negotiating position.
The FTAO and its partners will continue to plea for mainstreaming a global justice pillar in any supplementary policies to the current EGD. The FTAO is convinced that the future initiatives of the European Commission to boost the twin competitiveness and decarbonisation agenda could also benefit from being uplifted from a global equity point of view. Economic security and fair trade relationships go hand in hand with meeting the EGD goals while enhancing EU industry competitiveness.
Further Reading
Open Letter to EU Decision-makers on the EU contribution to the UNFCCC COP29 and the advent of a Global Green Deal
CALL TO ACTION towards a Global Green Deal
Europe’s green transition shall go global to be just and fair to all
A just transition for all: Why the European Green Deal needs to go Global?
The Fair Trade movement presents its views on the need for a truly Global Green Deal
