Shaping transformation in a socially just way

Climate change as a global problem has long ceased to be a phenomenon of the future. Extreme weather events, such as increasing heat waves with rising outdoor temperatures, floods, storms and forest fire risk have increased in recent years. Thus, we increasingly have to deal with the resulting health damage and newly emerging infectious diseases.

Tackling the climate crisis is a priority for the European Union

The European Union has also taken up this task and has put combating the climate crisis as one of its priorities on its political agenda. With the European Green Deal, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen already presented a concept on 11 December 2019 that aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union to zero by 2050. Europe should thus become the first climate-neutral continent. This also raises the question of how successful protection of citizens from the impacts of climate change can be designed in the context of effective social welfare schemes. In addition to recommendations to Member States to mitigate or compensate for the measures towards a just transition to climate neutrality, Brussels has also proposed various laws to reduce the immediate health impacts on citizens.

European Social Model and Green Deal

Solutions for a just and safe transition to climate neutrality must therefore be found and interlinked at all levels. In our current edition of the ed* magazine, we therefore discuss how we can jointly meet the challenges posed by climate change and climate protection measures and what role the EU can play in this. 

In addition to the legislative pact "Fit for 55" and the initiatives contained therein, such as the Climate Social Fund, the current issue also presents initial approaches on how the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) and the European Green Deal can be conceived together. The High-Level Group set up within the framework of the EPSR Action Plan has made initial proposals in this regard. These are aimed at enabling people to cope successfully with future challenges. The current issue of the ed* newsletter also looks at the adaptability of social security systems and discusses how coping strategies for future challenges can be developed jointly. The focus here is on the performance of collective security systems.

Vision of a future-oriented, climate-neutral and social Europe

Linking the European Green Deal, digitisation and social protection is one of the key challenges for the vision of a future-oriented, climate-neutral and social Europe.

Social security should be involved from the beginning. The European Representation of the German Social Insurance is therefore dedicating the anniversary event on the occasion of its 30th anniversary to this issue.

Titled "140 years of social insurance, 30 years of the single market – Bismarck on the move: Get digital. Go green.”, two panels will discuss the challenges facing social insurance in the context of digitisation and climate change on 27 June.

You will be able to access the ed* newsletter here.