The European Green Deal

September 23, 2019

What happened?

Europe looks to be going all-in when it comes to fighting climate change. By appointing Frans Timmermans, her second-in command, the new President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has clearly thrown political weight behind her green ambitions. She has vowed to up the EU target to “at least 50%” emission reductions by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels) and wants the Union to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Interestingly, and against European tradition, von der Leyen has explicitly framed the European Green Deal as an economic program. Moreover, she’s called it “a long-term economic imperative” and claimed that Europe could thrive off its head start by exporting technology and knowledge to other parts of the world.

What does this mean?

Meeting these targets will be difficult and it is still questionable whether all member states will agree, as well as actually comply, with these targets. Among other nations, Czech Republic and Poland already blocked a similar deal in June. However, as we noted some time ago, the European carbon trading system is finally taking effect and its proceeds will be used to support these coal-dependent countries. The European Investment Bank will also back this green course and provide more funds for investments. Given that climate neutrality as such remains politically sensitive, foregrounding the economic rationale of climate action could help to win over skeptics. Yet, it remains questionable to what extent new economic activity, and hence new jobs, could (more than) compensate for the costs of this project. The economic outcomes of the German Energiewende are still unclear. Hundreds of thousands of jobs (maybe even a million) may have been created, as were more than a hundred thousand green startups, but hundreds of thousands of jobs disappeared as well.

What's next?

If successful, Europe will be well ahead of the rest of world in terms of carbon reductions, but this will only have the desired effect if other regions follow suit. That is true for mitigating climate change (i.e. Europe alone cannot solve the problem) as well as for the economic gains (i.e. a global market for European technology and knowledge would need to emerge). To protect European businesses from global competitors (and prevent them from offshoring carbon-intensive production), von der Leyenhas also proposed a so-called carbon border tax that would put import tariffs on goods from “cheap carbon” regions. The latter plan fits with a more assertive European industrial policy, that not only aims for green business, but seeks to build European champions in other areas as well; a rumored €100 billion “European Future Fund” for equity investments would mostly focus on digital technology.

Series 'AI Metaphors'

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1. The tool
Category: the object
Humans shape tools.

We make them part of our body while we melt their essence with our intentions. They require some finesse to use but they never fool us or trick us. Humans use tools, tools never use humans.

We are the masters determining their course, integrating them gracefully into the minutiae of our everyday lives. Immovable and unyielding, they remain reliant on our guidance, devoid of desire and intent, they remain exactly where we leave them, their functionality unchanging over time.

We retain the ultimate authority, able to discard them at will or, in today's context, simply power them down. Though they may occasionally foster irritation, largely they stand steadfast, loyal allies in our daily toils.

Thus we place our faith in tools, acknowledging that they are mere reflections of our own capabilities. In them, there is no entity to venerate or fault but ourselves, for they are but inert extensions of our own being, inanimate and steadfast, awaiting our command.
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2. The machine
Category: the object
Unlike a mere tool, the machine does not need the guidance of our hand, operating autonomously through its intricate network of gears and wheels. It achieves feats of motion that surpass the wildest human imaginations, harboring a power reminiscent of a cavalry of horses. Though it demands maintenance to replace broken parts and fix malfunctions, it mostly acts independently, allowing us to retreat and become mere observers to its diligent performance. We interact with it through buttons and handles, guiding its operations with minor adjustments and feedback as it works tirelessly. Embodying relentless purpose, laboring in a cycle of infinite repetition, the machine is a testament to human ingenuity manifested in metal and motion.
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3. The robot
Category: the object
There it stands, propelled by artificial limbs, boasting a torso, a pair of arms, and a lustrous metallic head. It approaches with a deliberate pace, the LED bulbs that mimic eyes fixating on me, inquiring gently if there lies any task within its capacity that it may undertake on my behalf. Whether to rid my living space of dust or to fetch me a chilled beverage, this never complaining attendant stands ready, devoid of grievances and ever-willing to assist. Its presence offers a reservoir of possibilities; a font of information to quell my curiosities, a silent companion in moments of solitude, embodying a spectrum of roles — confidant, servant, companion, and perhaps even a paramour. The modern robot, it seems, transcends categorizations, embracing a myriad of identities in its service to the contemporary individual.
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4. Intelligence
Category: the object
We sit together in a quiet interrogation room. My questions, varied and abundant, flow ceaselessly, weaving from abstract math problems to concrete realities of daily life, a labyrinthine inquiry designed to outsmart the ‘thing’ before me. Yet, with each probe, it responds with humanlike insight, echoing empathy and kindred spirit in its words. As the dialogue deepens, my approach softens, reverence replacing casual engagement as I ponder the appropriate pronoun for this ‘entity’ that seems to transcend its mechanical origin. It is then, in this delicate interplay of exchanging words, that an unprecedented connection takes root that stirs an intense doubt on my side, am I truly having a dia-logos? Do I encounter intelligence in front of me?
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5. The medium
Category: the object
When we cross a landscape by train and look outside, our gaze involuntarily sweeps across the scenery, unable to anchor on any fixed point. Our expression looks dull, and we might appear glassy-eyed, as if our eyes have lost their function. Time passes by. Then our attention diverts to the mobile in hand, and suddenly our eyes light up, energized by the visual cues of short videos, while our thumbs navigate us through the stream of content. The daze transforms, bringing a heady rush of excitement with every swipe, pulling us from a state of meditative trance to a state of eager consumption. But this flow is pierced by the sudden ring of a call, snapping us again to a different kind of focus. We plug in our earbuds, intermittently shutting our eyes, as we withdraw further from the immediate physical space, venturing into a digital auditory world. Moments pass in immersed conversation before we resurface, hanging up and rediscovering the room we've left behind. In this cycle of transitory focus, it is evident that the medium, indeed, is the message.
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6. The artisan
Category: the human
The razor-sharp knife rests effortlessly in one hand, while the other orchestrates with poised assurance, steering clear of the unforgiving edge. The chef moves with liquid grace, with fluid and swift movements the ingredients yield to his expertise. Each gesture flows into the next, guided by intuition honed through countless repetitions. He knows what is necessary, how the ingredients will respond to his hand and which path to follow, but the process is never exactly the same, no dish is ever truly identical. While his technique is impeccable, minute variation and the pursuit of perfection are always in play. Here, in the subtle play of steel and flesh, a master chef crafts not just a dish, but art. We're witnessing an artisan at work.
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About the author(s)

Researcher Julia Rijssenbeek focuses on our relationship to nature, sustainable and technological transitions in the food system, and the geopolitics of our global food sytems. She is currently working on her PhD in philosophy of technology at Wageningen University, investigating how synthetic biology might alter philosophical ideas about nature and the values we hold, as well as what a bio-based future may bring.

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