The Russian-Ukranian war and its effects on the European green deal

Abstract

Millions worldwide are suffering the detrimental effects of climate change. Climate change includes fluctuations in the Earth’s temperatures and drastic weather patterns contributing to the rising levels of global warning potentially resulting in irreversible implications on the Earth’s climate. In order to address such a major concern to guarantee a liveable environment for future generations, the European Union has made addressing climate change a top priority. It has evidently enshrined into law the aim of becoming climate-neutral by 2050, a target which would make Europe the first climate-neutral continent globally. Such a target is set to be achieved through the European Green Deal. Introduced in 2019, it is recognised as a range of policy measures which will set the change into motion towards climate-neutrality. However, following its introduction in 2019, the European Green Deal encountered an array of challenges including the Covid-19 Pandemic and shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Hence, this dissertation aimed to understand the effects of the Russian-Ukrainian War on three selected elements of the European Green Deal. A study published a few months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine predicted that the war in Ukraine can result in major implications on energy security, food security, and industrial supply chains. Thus, this dissertation sought to analyse the effects of the war on these three elements from the start of the war on the 24th of February 2022 till the present day and how the EU has responded in accordance with its European Green Deal objectives. Research was conducted through document-based research. Data from Eurostat was used to support other data collected. Results indicated that due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU has sought to reduce its dependency from Russia in array of sectors specifically the importation of energy sources. It has used this dependency at its advantage to speed up its transition towards climate-neutrality particularly by increasing its use of renewable energy sources. Food security and food affordability in accordance with the Farm to Fork Strategy were major concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine not only for the EU itself but globally as well. Whilst food security itself was not a major concern within the EU unlike food affordability, concerns were raised regarding the importation and availability of fertilizers. However, in accordance with the Farm to Fork Strategy under the European Green Deal, the EU has also sought to reduce its dependency on fertilizers. The mobilization of industry for a circular and clean economy, according to the European Green Deal was particularly affected from a critical raw materials perspective. Such an element of the European Green Deal correlates also to the energy element.