The Road to Green 16: How can we balance industrial growth and reducing emissions?

Pollution caused by industrial emissions accounts for billions of euros in costs and hundreds of thousands of premature deaths in the EU every year. However, according to the European Environment Agency, the environmental and health costs of European industry have decreased by as much as a third between 2012 and 2021.  

In this episode, Euronews travels to Poland to visit Bełchatów power station to see how emissions have decreased in line with the EU’s Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). At the same time as reducing emissions, circular practices are also boosting profits.  

Euronews then goes to the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in Seville, Spain, to take a closer look at the “Sevilla Process” -  a collaborative governance model involving industry, EU Member States and civil society.

Under the revised IED, installations are required to comply with the environmental performance associated with the best available techniques (BAT) in their sector. These are decided during the "Sevilla Process".

Finally, Euronews visits a Heineken plant to see how water efficiency and more circular practices can be implemented.  

Watch the latest episode of 'The Road to Green' below to find out more.

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Background

The EU recently revised the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED 2.0), the main tool for taking action on pollution coming from the continent's largest factories and farms. The new rules aim to achieve a further 40% reduction in the main atmospheric pollutants by 2050.

One aim is to confirm the trend observed in recent decades: EU industry has grown while reducing its impact on the environment, a process known as ‘decoupling’.

Another important aspect of the revised Directive is to support innovation and guide investment to boost Europe's green competitiveness on the basis of the Clean Industrial Deal recently presented by the European Commission. 

Disclaimer

DG ENV co-finances the production of the Road to Green, while Euronews retain full editorial independence. Views and opinions expressed in the programme are solely those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the European Commission or any other entities.