The 3rd edition of the EUI Climate Week, held from 21 to 24 May 2024 in Palazzo Buontalenti in Florence, assessed the progress towards the European Union's transition to climate neutrality, emphasising critical implementation challenges within the framework of the EU Green Deal.
A significant highlight of the event was the presentation of a new book by Jos Delbeke, former Director-General of the European Commission’s DG for Climate Action and Professor at the EUI. Delbeke's book, "Delivering a Climate Neutral Europe," reflects on 25 years of EU climate policy and offers profound insights into the achievements of the European Green Deal. The book focuses on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, providing a roadmap for policymakers in the upcoming European policy cycle from 2024 to 2029. The book is available in open access here.
"The EUI Climate Week serves as a crucial platform for sharing knowledge and strategies to achieve climate neutrality," said Jos Delbeke. "My new book aims to equip policymakers with the necessary tools and insights to navigate the complex landscape of climate policy over the next five years."
Peter Vis, EUI Senior Research Associate with nearly three decades of experience in a variety of roles in the European Commission, highlighted how the discussions during the conference have been instrumental in shaping our approach to the next phase of the EU Green Deal: “The goal is better understanding sos that we can agree on better policies for the future. [Our work is to] anticipate challenges ahead and commit to finding answers.”
Besides the need to push for robust policies, the discussions also highlighted the critical importance of investments in renewable energy, innovation, and sustainable practices.
Shiva Dustdar, Director and Head of the EIB Institute, spoke of the role for gender-inclusive climate action. She noted that the path to climate neutrality requires collaboration across all sectors of society: "Empowering women in the climate movement is essential for driving comprehensive and equitable solutions. We need diverse perspectives to tackle the multifaceted challenges of climate change."
The EUI Climate Week also featured several notable sessions that focused on proposing actionable solutions, including the launch of the 2024 State and Trends of Carbon Pricing Report, which provided a comprehensive overview of emissions trading systems, carbon taxes, and the modernised Carbon Pricing Dashboard. Also, the International Outlook for the New EU Policy Cycle session, addressed geopolitical changes, macro-economic policy reviews, and strategic directions for COP30 in Brazil.
As the 2024 EUI Climate Week concludes, the insights and strategies shared during the conference will undoubtedly influence the next steps in global climate action. Speaking of this effort, Laura Iozzelli, STG Climate Research Associate said: “[The conference was] a key venue to bring together a diverse set of voices from policy-making, think tanks, private sector and academia, to take stock of the European Union’s journey to carbon neutrality, address long-lasting and new challenges and chart possible ways forward.”
Building on the momentum of the EUI Climate Week, the Florence School of Transnational Governance will host an event on 17 June to present Jos Delbeke's book, "Delivering a Climate Neutral Europe." The event will provide further insights into the reflections made during the EUI Climate Week and offer resources for students, scholars, and policymakers to make sense of the next policy cycle.
Join us online on 17 June to continue the dialogue on shaping a climate-neutral Europe.