The Just Transition Fund must reward climate ambition

(EurActiv, 4 Jun 2020) The EU’s Just Transition Fund must reward climate ambition and prioritise Europe’s coal communities where the cliff-edge is fast approaching, writes Niklas Nienaß.

Niklas Nienaß is a German Member of the European Parliament affiliated to the Greens/EFA group.

The European Commission’s proposal for a Just Transition Fund (JTF) is explicitly designed to support EU regions facing the biggest challenges in the transition to a carbon-neutral economy.

As the EU outlines plans for a huge recovery package in response to the COVID19 crisis, this (still relatively) small fund remains a beacon of hope for a more resilient future for these vulnerable, fossil fuel-dependent communities.

While the COVID-19 crisis is rightly at the forefront of our focus at the present time, the climate crisis poses an even greater long-term threat to the health of our societies. Left unchecked, it will exacerbate and reduce our ability to respond to future crises of this and other kinds.

External link

EurActiv, 4 Jun 2020: The Just Transition Fund must reward climate ambition