Joint letter to EU Commission to retain 30% climate and environment spending target
A coalition of European businesses and civil society organisations is urging the European Commission to maintain a minimum 30% horizontal spending target for climate and environmental investments in the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, and the escalating threats of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution are endangering entire communities. In light of these existential challenges, urgent and sustained investment in sustainability is essential.
For these reasons, in a joint letter, 63 European businesses, associations, think tanks, and civil society organisations, including POLIS, call on the Commission to allocate at least 30% of the overall EU budget to climate action and 10% to biodiversity.
Preserving these targets means accelerating the clean industrial transition, safeguarding nature, supporting the expansion of renewable energy, and building long-term resilience. This includes continued support to Europe’s sustainable transport transition.
Continued investment in sustainability
A horizontal spending target for climate and environment is the simplest yet most powerful way to support projects that drive the clean industrial transition and strengthen Europe’s resilience. The current MFF already allocates at least 30% to climate-related expenditure, alongside a specific biodiversity target. These funds have supported over 11,000 projects promoting a wide range of sustainable initiatives, including the electrification of transportation modes.
Climate investments underpin Europe’s competitiveness and growth. They have a higher return on investment than non-green expenditure, so maintaining and strengthening horizontal targets means ensuring that each euro achieves the greatest possible impact. Moreover, sustained investment in sustainability will attract private capital, innovation, and talent, while also boosting Europe’s economic and climate resilience.
Maintaining and strengthening a horizontal spending target for climate and the environment in the next EU budget will send a clear, unambiguous message that Europe is committed to being the leader of the green transition.
Read the full letter here.
