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1.1.5. A new ambition in practice

Transformative change is urgently needed to deliver the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement and the Global Biodiversity Framework, in line with the Global Gateway and the European Green Deal. Business-as-usual will not achieve sustainability but instead risks breaching planetary tipping points with irreversible effects for the environment and thereby human societies and the economy. Goals for 2030 and beyond will only be achieved through transformative changes across economic, social, political and technological domains.

The elements for action provided below will help maximise opportunities for steering a portfolio of projects into the desired direction. Tools and good practice examples are rapidly becoming available (see the section 3.1. on Guidance and Inspirational Material).


To reach the ambitious EU green targets by 2030, transformative actions need to be launched now, across all sectors


Guiding principles for translating our new ambition into action

Key principles and steps for an enhanced greening approach, matching the ambition of international goals and the European Green Deal include:


Make greening everyone's responsibility

Greening cuts across all sectors and programmes of EU cooperation. To achieve results, it needs strong signals of commitment by management (from Heads of Units to the DG; from Head of Cooperation to Heads of Delegation; from middle-management to staff at all levels). Moreover, it needs to be championed by well-trained colleagues throughout the organisation and be based on institutional learning. It requires the active engagement of each and every colleague involved in designing and implementing our actions.

Apply a green lens early on

The best chance of identifying environmental benefits is to apply a ‘green lens approach’ from the earliest stage of the identification of an action, when development options are still open. ‘Anything that can be green should be green’ is a good guiding principle. Identifying greening opportunities upstream leads to more meaningful, effective and efficient opportunities for transformational change. Greening efforts should apply from the programming phase and the policy dialogue that underpins them, as well as to the development of investment pipelines, and then be further reflected along the cycle.

Focus on positive contributions

We must move from merely doing no harm to doing good. In practical terms this means to proactively seek win-wins for environmental sustainability and climate action while achieving economic and social benefits. Some examples include the use of nature-based solutions and identifying synergies between sector objectives and environmental and climate objectives

Ensure interventions are environment- and climate-proof

The application of the DNH and DNSH principles ensures no significant harm to the environment and climate, including avoiding excluded activities. On the other hand, it is necessary to identify how environmental degradation processes and climate change can affect the feasibility, effectiveness and sustainability of our project. Both dimensions need to be taken into consideration. This is often referred to as the ‘double materiality’.

Cover all steps of the intervention cycle

Ensure the environmental and climate intentions identified at the start of an action are well transmitted throughout the intervention cycle. Avoid or minimise the risk of dilution, when green ambitions lose their strength during formulation or implementation. Uplift green action until it leads to meaningful results, through regular reviews during implementation, and by embedding climate and environmental issues in mid-term and final evaluations.

Look beyond sector horizons

Many actions at sector level may not have environmental or climate benefits in mind from the start. Yet, in the context of a green paradigm shift, all sectors have a role to play. For instance, public finance management can be a key enabler of an integrated government green transition.

All financial instruments need to contribute

Aligning financial instruments with environment and climate objectives is essential to accelerate the transition. A green and inclusive transition requires the mobilisation of significant public and private funds, including through innovative schemes and partnerships. Setting the scene for a green economy implies working on enabling environments and greening public finance reforms, notably with the leverage of budget support. Regulatory frameworks, green fiscal reforms, sustainable finance taxonomies and green bonds can attract new financial flows and boost green investments, while averting investments in environmentally harmful activities. Green taxes can address market failures by ensuring that the polluter pays and foster producers and consumer behavioural change towards greener economies.

Promote the greening of sector policies, plans and strategies at national level

An effective way to advance transformational change is to support partner governments to align their own development policies and investment plans to environment and climate change objectives. The EU can provide technical assistance and capacity development, and promote the use of instruments such as Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to this effect.

Use evidence and monitor environmental and climate performance

Seek information and evidence to improve understanding on climate and environmental issues and to identify green solutions. Support tracking, monitoring & evaluation and reporting on green action, by using relevant indicators and verifying there are real contributions to the environment. Ensure climate and environmental issues are considered in lessons learnt to feed future action. Build evidence on benefits of green action to influence decision makers and harness their motivation to promote sound environmental and climate policies.


Advocate the green transformation in policy dialogue with partners

The green transformation requires coordinated action by many actors from various sectors. It requires awareness and strong commitment. Introducing environment and climate change as a systematic feature in our policy dialogue not only advances EU values and commitments towards sustainability but helps to consolidate the building block for transformational change at national and regional level. Build bridges with local government, civil society and the private sector to embrace and support the green transition, in particular to promote innovation, out-of-the-box ideas and question the carbon-based economy model.


1.1.4. EU international cooperation instruments
1.2. Climate and biodiversity financial targets

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