‘Agenda for Change’ – Communication from the Commission ‘Increasing the impact of EU Development Policy: an Agenda for Change’. This document, adopted in 2011, states that EU development policy should promote green economy.
2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development – a universal framework for all countries to help eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development by 2030 (one of the main areas of EU cooperation with the private sector on green economy). It was adopted in September 2015 by all 193 member countries of the United Nations.
2030 SDGs – Sustainable Development Goals; 17 SDGs were adopted under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They aim to balance economic, sustainable and environmental dimensions. These came into force on 1 January 2016.
Circular economy – this is an ideal of an economy that aims to ‘close the loop’ of product lifecycles, aiming where possible for the reuse of materials, relying on restoration and regeneration to preserve and enhance natural capital as well as optimising resource yields. The European Commission has adopted a Circular Economy Package including an EU action plan for the Circular Economy adopted in December 2015 and EU action plan for the Circular Economy II (CEAP II) adopted in 2020.
Farm to Fork Strategy – The Farm to Fork Strategy lays down a new approach to ensure that agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, and the food value chain contribute appropriately to the objective for a climate neutral Union in 2050. Food systems remain one of the key drivers of climate change and environmental degradation. The manufacturing, processing, retailing, packaging and transportation of food make a major contribution to GHG emissions, air, soil and water pollution, and have a profound impact on biodiversity. On the other side, consumers also need to be empowered to choose sustainable food. The creation of a favourable environment that makes it easier to choose healthy and sustainable diets will benefit consumers’ health and quality of life, and reduce health-related costs for society.
Europe 2020 Strategy – the EU’s growth strategy, in which the green economy concept is embedded. Launched in 2010 to create the conditions for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, this is the European Union’s growth strategy for the next decade and aims at establishing a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy with high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion.
GPGC – the Global Public Goods and Challenges Programme 2014–2020 seeks to foster economically, socially and environmentally sustainable development in an integrated and holistic way aiming at promoting good governance, political stability and security, and the requirement for policy coherence in external action. This is a European Commission programme.
MIP – Multi-Annual Indicative Programme. These are cooperation cooperation programmes spelling priorities of EU international cooperation at national, regional and global level.
Resource Efficiency means using the Earth’s limited resources in a sustainable manner while minimising impacts on the environment. It allows us to create more with less and to deliver greater value with less input: increasing resource productivity and decoupling economic growth from resource use. The Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe, adopted in 2011, outlines how we can transform Europe’s economy into a sustainable one by 2050. It is part of the Resource Efficiency Flagship of the Europe 2020 Strategy.
SCP – Sustainable Consumption and Production. This is the main focus of SDG 12 (‘Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns’), and is a cornerstone of the green economy concept.