The Six Goals
The EU Taxonomy organises "environmentally sustainable" around six objectives. An economic activity must substantially contribute to at least one of them to qualify.
1. Climate Change Mitigation
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with the Paris Agreement targets of well below 2C and pursuing 1.5C. This covers renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transport, carbon capture, and low-carbon manufacturing.
This is the most developed objective. It has the most criteria and covers the most activities.
2. Climate Change Adaptation
Adjusting to actual and expected climate change. This covers activities that either adapt themselves to physical climate risks (flooding, heat stress, drought) or provide adaptation solutions for others (flood defences, climate-resilient infrastructure).
3. Sustainable Use and Protection of Water and Marine Resources
Achieving good status of water bodies and marine waters. Covers water treatment, water-efficient technologies, sustainable fisheries, and marine ecosystem protection.
4. Transition to a Circular Economy
Keeping products, materials, and resources in use for as long as possible. Covers waste prevention, reuse, recycling, product design for durability, and material recovery.
5. Pollution Prevention and Control
Preventing or reducing releases of pollutants to air, water, and land beyond what regulations already require. Covers clean manufacturing processes, remediation, and pollution monitoring.
6. Protection and Restoration of Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Protecting, conserving, and restoring habitats and species. Covers sustainable forestry, ecosystem restoration, nature-based solutions, and conservation activities.
Objectives 1 and 2 (climate) got their technical criteria first, in December 2021. Objectives 3-6 received criteria in November 2023. The climate criteria are the most mature and cover the most activities. The other four are newer and will expand over time.
How They Interact
An activity can contribute to one objective but must not significantly harm any of the other five. This is the Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) principle - covered in detail in Lesson 1.3.
A solar panel manufacturing plant substantially contributes to climate change mitigation (Objective 1). But it must also demonstrate it doesn't significantly harm water resources (Objective 3) through its manufacturing process, doesn't create excessive waste (Objective 4), doesn't release harmful pollutants (Objective 5), and doesn't destroy ecosystems where the factory sits (Objective 6).
Key Takeaways
- 1The EU Taxonomy defines six environmental objectives - climate mitigation, climate adaptation, water, circular economy, pollution prevention, and biodiversity
- 2An activity must substantially contribute to at least one objective and not significantly harm any of the other five
- 3Climate objectives (1 and 2) have the most developed criteria since December 2021 - the remaining four received criteria in November 2023
- 4The objectives work as a system - you cannot claim green on one dimension while causing damage on another