Framework
Since the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the multiple challenges faced by the European Union have often been described as "multiple crises" or "polycrises," according to the European Environment Agency. These unprecedented, non-climatic shocks have led to the development of new political priorities and instruments, both at the EU and Member State levels.
The year 2023 was marked by increasing geopolitical tensions, high living costs in a context of inflation and high interest rates, the occurrence of extreme climate events, protests emphasizing the importance of adopting social justice policies, and the rise of artificial intelligence. These events have affected the quality of life of Europeans, including their exposure and vulnerability to such risks.
In the context of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting global warming, the Paris Agreement emerged, an international treaty that came into force on November 4, 2016. The Paris Agreement includes an action plan to limit global warming and aims to keep the increase in global average temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, while encouraging efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Currently, the European Green Deal is one of the pillars of European policy, with the objective of making the EU's economy climate-neutral by 2050. It presents a set of strategies and targets to achieve this goal, ensuring that the transition is carried out in a fair manner for all.
Portugal was one of the countries present at the signing of the Paris Agreement. However, it aimed to go further, recently committing to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. In this context, the Roadmap for Carbon Neutrality 2050 (RNC2050) was developed, with the goal of establishing, in a sustainable way, the path to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
Learn more:
The 4M Strategy
The Commitments
Carbon and Energy
Climate Change
Citizen 4M