VIENNA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Europe needs a common and big vision of how people will live and do business in 30 years, which is why a green deal is an important and correct step, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said on Thursday.
"The next 10 years will determine whether we will succeed in achieving the vision of a climate-neutral Europe by the middle of this century," said Van der Bellen in an interview with the Austrian Press Agency (APA).
The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled the ambitious European Green Deal, which outlined the European Union's (EU) roadmap to combat climate change.
"I therefore support the Commission President's proposal to significantly improve the EU reduction targets for climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to between 50 and 55 percent," he said.
There is a strong scientific consensus that the world must reduce climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050 at the latest in order to achieve the so-called 1.5 degrees Celsius target and prevent the uncontrollable effects of global warming, Van der Bellen told the APA.
The word "climate change" does not reflect the seriousness of the situation, he noted. "We are in a climate crisis. Global warming can be catastrophic if we do nothing."
"If we now start with courage and confidence, Europe as a pioneer can also take advantage of the great opportunities that all of us face through a climate-friendly restructuring of the economy and society," he said.
