Delivering on the European Green Deal A Private Sector Perspective 2025

Foreword Five years after the launch of the European Green Deal, the political landscape in Europe shows that we need to speed up progress towards becoming a cleaner, more resilient and competitive region. Urgent action is needed to deliver a European economy that is growing, attracting investments and which takes full advantage of the potential the single market brings. To get there, we will need to harness transformative technologies to boost productivity while securing the highest possible living standards across our continent. As co-chairs of the CEO Action Group for the European Green Deal, we remain deeply committed to the EU’s climate agenda, and strongly urge both public and private sector leaders not to backtrack on their ambition to reach net zero by 2050, and to ensure that climate neutrality is the natural result of a powerful and dynamic European economy. This CEO Action Group has spearheaded positive action across the European Green Deal’s objectives for the last five years, from reducing emissions to improving energy and resource efficiency. In this report, we evaluate the steps already taken – and those still needed – by European businesses and governments to deliver on our climate targets. Europe accounts for 7% of global emissions and to make meaningful progress going forward, including systemically decarbonizing our supply chains, global efforts will be necessary. What is also clear from this report is that getting to net-zero by 2050 remains difficult – but we believe it is possible. Today, regulatory complexity, fragmented markets and a patchy financing landscape are hindering full cross-industry decarbonization and enhanced resource efficiency. Based on multistakeholder input, we offer insights and strategic recommendations that would help foster alignment between decision makers on EU and national levels, as well as across industry sectors. Swift and synchronized action is needed to tackle these systemic limitations across EU member states. Multistakeholder collaboration is essential as Europe’s leadership mobilizes around the structural reforms necessary to unlock higher productivity and growth. We will be at the frontlines to help ensure that Europe delivers on the mutually reinforcing objectives of economic dynamism and climate neutrality.Feike Sijbesma Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Royal Philips Ester Baiget President and Chief Executive Officer, Novonesis Delivering on the European Green Deal: A Private Sector PerspectiveJanuary 2025 The CEO Action Group for the European Green Deal is a great example of how ambitious public- private dialogue and cooperation can make a difference for the future of Europe. This report provides the second assessment of private- sector efforts in building practical pathways for Europe’s net zero by 2050. Its findings emphasize that commitment to these objectives will be vital while tackling market and regulatory fragmentation to accelerate industrial net-zero innovation and enhance the region’s economic competitiveness. The report also underscores the role of multistakeholder collaboration to sustain the momentum for green innovation and industrial decarbonization across Europe. The World Economic Forum looks forward to supporting these efforts, which remain crucial to supporting prosperity across the continent. Mirek Dušek Managing Director, World Economic Forum Mauro Macchi Chief Executive Officer EMEA, Accenture Delivering on the European Green Deal: A Private Sector Perspective 3