On the basis of the EGD vision and the identified strategies, Crossgov deduced some overarching objectives for each policy stream, namely biodiversity, climate change and pollution.

A policy objective refers to an overarching goal or intention that guides the development and implementation of policies, representing the desired outcome or direction that policymakers aim to achieve.

Ocean related objectives

Biodiversity

  • Protect and restore marine biodiversity
  • Reduce marine pollution
  • Achieve sustainable fisheries
  • Support transition to a sustainable blue economy (transport, renewables, marine technologies)
  • Strengthen international ocean governance cooperation to protect the oceans, promote sustainable fisheries and combat climate change.

By 2030 :

Legally protect a minimum of 30% of the EU’s seas area and integrate ecological corridors (new target).
Strict legal protection of at least a third of the EU’s protected areas (new target).
Significant areas of degraded and carbon rich ecosystems are restored.
Habitats and species show no deterioration in conservation status and trends, at least 30% reach favourable conservation status or at least show a positive trend (extends deadline – see Habitats Directive).
Effectively manage all protected areas (similar to the Habitats Directive).
Negative impacts on sensitive species and habitats, including on the seabed, through fishing and extraction activities, are substantially reduced to reach a good environmental status (extends deadline see MSFD).
The by-catch of species is eliminated or reduced to a level that allows species recovery and conservation.
50% reduction in the number of Red List species threatened by invasive and alien species (quantified already existing goal in EU Invasive Species Regulation)

By 2050 :

Cover all ecosystems in need of restoration (extends deadline)
Significant increase in organic aquaculture (new target)

Climate Change

  • Reach climate neutrality by 2050 (economy with net-zero GHG emissions) in line with the EU’s commitment to global climate action under the Paris Agreement.
  • Increase share in renewable energy.
  • Accelerate the permitting process for renewable energy projects.
  • Improve energy efficiency.
  • Integrated energy system.
  • Decrease emissions from maritime transport – use of sustainable fuels by vessels and at ports.

By 2030 :

55% GHG emissions reduction – including removals – compared to 1990 (legally binding target, already existed as non-binding).
35% of non-CO2 GHG emission reduction compared to 2015 (new target).
Coal, oil and gas consumption decrease, respectively, by 70%, 30% and 25% (new target)
All sectors covered by the revised EU ETS will reduce GHG emissions by 61% compared to 2005 levels (enlarged scope)
Net sink of 310 million tons of CO2 (new target)
60GW wind energy and at least 1GW ocean energy– made specific to offshore renewables and quantified)
Produce up to 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen (specified for renewable hydrogen and quantified)
Methane emissions decrease by 35% compared to 2005 (new target)
First zero emission vessels in the EU market (new target).
Transport by inland waterways and short sea shipping increases by 25% (new target)

By 2050 :

The EU is climate resilient, and adaptation is made smarter, more systemic and swifter.
Climate neutrality (legally binding target)
300GW offshore wind and 40GW ocean energy – offshore renewables are a core component of Europe’s energy system (specified and quantified)
90% reduction of GHG emissions from all modes of transport, including maritime transport (higher than previous target).

Pollution

  • Include pollution prevention in all relevant EU policies, maximising synergies in an effective and proportionate way, stepping up implementation and identifying potential gaps or trade-offs.
  • Zero emission ports (see also Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy).
  • Prevent waste (single-use plastics, lost or discarded fishing gear and waste discarded from ships).
  • Align the EU air quality standards with WHO recommendations & review quality of water standards and EU waste laws to ensure that they implement the green circular economy principles.
  • Support innovation and implementation of EU policies and laws to achieve healthy, pollution-free oceans, seas and waters.
  • Protect citizens and the environment against hazardous chemicals and encourage innovation for the development of safe and sustainable alternatives, by: (i) simplifying and strengthening the legal framework, (ii) improving cooperation and transparency between EU agencies and scientific bodies and (iii) ensuring that the regulatory framework rapidly reflects scientific evidence on the risk posed by hazardous chemicals.

By 2030 :

Reduce the number of premature deaths caused by air pollution by 55%.
Reduce by 25% the EU ecosystems where air pollution threatens biodiversity.
Halve litter at sea (50% reduction of plastic litter and 30% of microplastics) (new target)
Use and risk from chemical pesticides is reduced by 50 % and no chemical pesticides are used in sensitive areas (new target)

By 2050 :

Nutrient losses from fertilisers reduced by 50%, reduced use of fertilisers by 20% (quantified and extended deadline).
Reduce overall EU sales of antimicrobials in aquaculture by 50% (new target).
Threshold value on beach litter (less than 20 litter items per 100 meters coastline – new target)

How Green Is Your Ocean?

Podcast

In this episode of the podcast series “How Green Is Your Deal?”, marine governance experts Froukje Maria Platjouw and Judith van Leeuwen share their insights on how the EU governs its oceans and seas, how it features into the European Green Deal, and the challenges sustainable marine governance faces.

The content provided has been extracted from the Deliverable 1.1 (Green Deal objectives and scenarios) of the CrossGov project.