Making decarbonisation a powerful growth driver for European businesses: extending the ambitions of its Green Deal, the Clean Industry Pactpresented on 26 February by the European Commission, sets out various ways of encouraging EU industry to green its production and, at the same time, improve its competitiveness against a backdrop of rivalry with the United States and China. These range from a bank to finance industrial decarbonisation, to sustainability criteria in public procurement contracts designed to encourage the use of renewable energies. increase demand for "Made in Europe" products or a package of regulatory simplifications, which has received mixed reviews from environmental NGOs. " We are aware that our European businesses still face far too many obstacles, from excessive regulatory requirements to high energy prices." said Ursula van der Leyen, President of the Commission.
The Clean Industry Pact focuses on two closely related sectors: energy-intensive and energy-intensive industries. clean technologies. While this ambition for clean and affordable energy aims to limit the EU's dependence on imported fossil fuels, it also aims to accelerate the sustainable transition of particularly energy-intensive industries, be they automotive, chemical, steel or, closer to home, travel, aeronautics. This is a sector which, along with shipping, is eagerly awaiting the transition to sustainable fuel production on an industrial scale.
Act now for sustainable fuels
In the run-up to the unveiling of the Clean Industrial Deal, a number of players in these two sectors had taken up the cause in recent weeks, including Airlines for Europe and European Shipowners, along with the association Transport & Environnement (T&E ). " Airlines and shipowners are getting together to send out a simple message: we need renewable fuels now and innovative technologies to help our industries decarbonise" said Ourania Georgoutsakou, Director General of A4E. At the same time, William Todts, Executive Director of T&E, stressed that Europe had money, know-how and sustainable objectives: " What it lacks are intelligent financial instruments to kick-start the manufacture and adoption of hydrogen-based fuels. We must act now to build the industries of the future" .
At the same time, 75 executives, including those from Airbus, Boeing, Air France-KLM and ADP, sent a letter to Ursula van der Leyen and European Commissioner for Tourism and Sustainable Transport Apostolos Tzitzikostas. Their main demands included the inclusion of the e-SAF as a a strategic priority in the Clean Industrial Deal, but also funding mechanisms and long-term certainty on e-SAF mandates. This initiative was supported by T&E, which organised a parallel event entitled "From the Green Deal to the Clean Industrial Deal" on 18 February, in which Apostolos Tzitzikostas took part.
On this occasion, the European Commissioner outlined the contours of the pact for clean industry that is about to be presented: " It will pave the way for a sustainable, robust and competitive European industry. And it will pave the way for an investment plan for sustainable transportThis is the investment we desperately need to accelerate the use of cleaner fuels." .
A step in the right direction, before going any further
Now that it has been unveiled, how has the Clean Industry Pact been received by the sector? There has been some satisfaction, notably that aviation has been included in the Clean Industrial Act, but there have also been some reservations. For the partners in the Destination 2050 alliance, which brings together the main associations representing airlines and airports, such as Airlines for Europe and ACI Europe, " It's a first step, but a bolder plan is needed to defend the competitiveness of European aviationthey commented in a press release. The Clean Industrial Deal is a further recognition of the need to support low-carbon fuels and charging infrastructure for aviation. But competitive aviation is not just about fuels. "
Pending the unveiling of the investment plan for sustainable transport, which should take place later this year, the alliance is reiterating its call for the European Commission to go further, in particular by " grateful the strategic importance of aviation as a key driver of European economic growth".In addition to concrete measures concerning funding or support for research into new generations of aircraft and air traffic management systems.
For its part, the association Transport & Environnement welcomed the " helping hand "The Clean Industry Deal has given the green light to hydrogen-derived alternative fuels. " A step in the right direction" according to Fanny Pointet, Head of Maritime Transport at T&E France. key details on how the EU will close the price gap between fossil fuels and greener alternatives" . " The investment plan for sustainable transport must fill these gaps, otherwise alternative fuels will not take off." she believes.
At the same time, the postponement of the proposal for a 2040 emissions reduction target, contrary to what had been planned, is a major setback for the Group. " worrying signal". according to T&E, which warns that " any step backwards from the expected target of -90 % would deprive carmakers, airlines and shipping companies of the certainty they need to invest in clean technologies" .
Industry Minister Marc Ferracci spoke to the newspaper about the Clean Industry Pact. Les Echosdeclaring that " France will not apply the targets "90% reduction in emissions by 2040 " if Europe does not change its ways" The Clean Industrial Deal does not offer enough measures to support the sector in achieving Europe's climate objectives.
