Reduce material consumption, eliminate fossil fuels, protect biodiversity, promote environmental sustainability. The following are some of the points around which the VIII Environmental Action Programme revolves: it was adopted by the European Council to address the EU’s ecological transition between now and 2030. The Environmental Action Programme aims to accelerate the green transition in a fair and inclusive way, with the long-term goal for 2050 of "Living well, within the confines of the planet". The EAP sets six priority thematic objectives:
• reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
• adaptation to climate change;
• a regenerative growth model;
• a zero pollution ambition;
• the protection and restoration of biodiversity;
• the reduction of major environmental and climate impacts related to production and consumption.
The Council and Parliament agreed on several conditions for achieving the priority objectives, in particular: reducing the EU’s material and consumption footprint; strengthening positive environmental incentives; the phasing out of environmentally harmful subsidies, in particular subsidies for the use of fossil fuels.
It was also agreed to include a mid-term review in the 8th EAP in 2024 of the progress made in achieving its thematic priority objectives. Following that review, the Commission should present a legislative proposal to add an annex which will contain a list and a timetable of actions for the period after 2025.