Is Europe's Green Deal entering a grey zone?

A set of policy initiatives, the Green Deal aims to make the EU carbon neutral and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Its effective implementation is proving challenging in different economic sectors. 

In the Czech Republic, the main concerns are coming from industry. The Czech government wants to reduce greenhouse emissions by 30% by 2030. Some big factories say they are already working on it, but others are struggling.

"[The Green Deal policy] negatively affects our business, especially our competitiveness, because these regulations do not exist outside the EU. It's a question of policy setting. Whether and how Czech and European authorities want the industry to exist at all - or not," said Jaroslav Seifrt, CEO of a SME that produces 50,000 tons of Bohemia glassware annually.

Green Deal-associated social costs seem to torment a country that has suffered a steady decline in its industrial tissue.  

Workers fear they will pay a heavy price for the unpreparedness to this green transition, “As an ideal, the Green Deal is fine. If Europe were a separate planet in the Solar System, we would definitely be for it," said Peter Zegzulka, a trade union leader in the steel sector. "But unfortunately, Europe emits roughly 8% of the world's total emissions per year. So, if emissions in Europe were reduced by 50%, then where would the remaining 96% be cut?" 

Czech workers want Green Deal policies that keep production and employment.  For their part, NGOs wonder how it can be implemented in a socially fair way.

Meanwhile, the debate in Ireland is mostly being focused on farming. The government has asked the sector to reduce its greenhouse emissions by 25% by 2030. Farmers fear the only possible way to achieve that goal is