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🗞️ Driving the news: The European Green Deal is at a pivotal juncture amid rising living costs, impending elections, and escalating “greenlash,” with recent setbacks spotlighting the broader challenges faced by the EU in its decarbonization journey

🔭 The context: A report by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) asserts that the forthcoming period is decisive for the EU’s green transition
• The union, despite public support for climate action, is grappling with mounting criticism and wavering commitments from member nations such as Sweden and Germany, while also encountering dilemmas related to energy prices and competitiveness

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: A dilution or retraction of the EU’s green commitments could impede global efforts to combat climate change, with the union’s leadership role in green initiatives being crucial for influencing international climate policies and actions
• Any stalling in the EU's green initiatives would render the battle against the climate crisis more arduous

⏭️ What’s next: With multiple elections slated across the EU and escalating debates on the economic implications of green policies, the region is set to undergo intensified discussions and evaluations regarding its environmental commitments and strategies
• The evolving geopolitical scenario and competitive green advancements by other nations would also shape the EU’s future approach to its green deal

💬 One quote: “Europe is facing a make-or-break moment in terms of whether it is willing to pay the costs – both financial and political – of moving forward with the next phase of decarbonisation,” (Susi Dennison and Mats Engström, authors of the ECFR report)

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