Four years after its approval, the Green Deal remains central to the fight against climate change. Its implementation has led to a wide-ranging European debate of a social and political nature. The Green Deal could generate up to two million new jobs by 2030 in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency, according to the latest Commission figures.
Despite its ambition, this project comes with its share of risks. A study by the European Trade Union Institute found out that the transition to a low-carbon economy could result in the loss of more than three million jobs in energy-intensive and high-carbon sectors by 2030. This could generate social and political tensions, as demonstrated by the growing protest movements by workers in traditional industries in some Member States. There is also considerable tension in the agricultural sector, not least in Italy and Germany.
The aim of this year edition of the Vigoni Forum for Students is to enable students to develop, together with experts from the economic, political and scientific sectors concrete ideas on how to deal with risks as well as to exploit the opportunities of the Green Deal. Participants will develop, starting from guiding questions, opinions that they will need to be able to argue and defend.
More information about the initiative and how to apply can be found in the call (download section).