The Clean Industrial Deal: Why it matters and how to make it work for you

The Clean Industrial Deal is at the heart of the EU’s climate transition. It aims to decarbonise Europe while helping its industries grow and compete. 

With tools, events and an active community of individuals and organisations dedicated to climate action, the European Climate Pact is here to help you learn about the Deal and what it means for you.

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What is the Clean Industrial Deal? 

Launched by the European Commission in February 2025, the Clean Industrial Deal is the EU’s plan to boost clean energy, create quality jobs, and make sure European companies can thrive in the rapidly changing global economy. 

In particular, it offers support to industries that use a lot of energy and need to cut emissions, and also those that will make the EU more competitive in the future, such as the clean-tech sector.

Speeding up the roll-out of clean energy and using energy more efficiently will reduce the need for imported fossil fuels and lower energy bills for businesses and homes. The goal is also to make the economy more circular – reusing resources and avoiding waste – and ensure reliable access to critical raw materials.  

All this will help the EU continue to cut carbon emissions on its journey to be climate neutral by 2050, and make the European economy stronger and less dependent on imports. 

How does the Deal affect me? 

The Clean Industrial Deal is about challenges people and companies across Europe are facing today. Here are some that you might have experienced:

• As a young person, how can I make sure I have the right skills for my future?
• As a jobseeker, how do I find a good, long-term job in a changing economy?
• As a homeowner, how do I keep my energy bills in check?
• As a business owner, how do I run a successful business as industries and markets change?
• As a citizen, how can I help others in my community?

The Deal will help through various measures that support European workers and businesses. These are some of the things they aim to achieve:

• create 500,000 new jobs in sectors such as electricity supply, electrical manufacturing, construction, waste management and renewable energy production;
• invest in making sure workers have the right skills for the clean industrial transition;
• increase clean energy and help citizens take part in the energy transition with its Affordable Energy Action Plan and Citizens’ Energy Package, making Europe less reliant on fossil fuels and lowering energy bills;
• bring €100 billion in funding for clean manufacturing;
• improve access to raw materials and increase circularity, helping remanufacturing grow to €100 billion by 2030;
• help EU industry work with reliable partners around the world.

“This [EU climate] agenda is not just about climate – it's about people, prosperity, and future generations.” Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General for Climate Action, at the European Climate Pact: Together in Action event in March 2025 

Where does the European Climate Pact come in?

The European Climate Pact aims to turn policy into action, encouraging everyone to take their own steps to build a more sustainable Europe. Many community members – Ambassadors and Partners across Europe – have been working on initiatives related to challenges addressed by the Clean Industrial Deal. 

A course at the University of Ljubljana, organised by Climate Pact Partner AURORA, trained 30 European students on how solar energy and energy communities can help drive Europe’s clean energy transition.

In the Basque Country, the Raising Awareness Initiative through Sustainability Education in VET project has used tools such as Climate Walks to promote green skills. Many Partners and Ambassadors have also been supporting education in schools, using Climate Games to get  young people interested in climate action and sustainability.

Meanwhile, Ambassador César González Fernández of Luxembourg received the 2024 European Young Innovators Award for his work on the Clean Something For Nothing app – a great example of forward-thinking entrepreneurship that is also supporting climate action.

At the “Together in Action” annual event in March 2025, Pact Ambassador Marina Gavrilaki also spoke to us about the inspiring examples she has seen of businesses becoming more sustainable.

What can I do in practice?

Follow our three simple steps:

1. Get to know the Clean Industrial Deal and the challenges and solutions it focuses on. What can you relate to or what interests you?

2. Think about concrete things you can do. For example, you might decide to:

• identify three skills to support your career (e.g. improve sustainability competences, learn about new technologies, green entrepreneurship);
• apply for a job in a future-proof industry (e.g. clean tech, renewable energy);
• create a strategy to make your business more circular (check out resources like this toolbox);
• help spread the word and get others on board (e.g. set up a training programme for young people in your community).

3. Make use of the European Climate Pact’s resources to help you, for example by:

• exploring the EU Climate Action Academy, which has run webinars on topics like engaging citizens and mobilising communities;
• browsing the Academy’s 100+ resources, for instance UNESCO’s guidance on teaching and learning for climate action, SME Climate Hub’s 1.5° C Business Playbook, and CARE’s Toolkit for Youth on Adaptation & Leadership;
• reading our articles on topics such as new skills and jobs for Europe’s green future and identifying greenwashing;
• taking individual action to live more sustainably, for example by tracking your own actions and learning more about climate solutions;
• using one of our quick-start tools to organise a group activity for your community, for instance a Climate Game or a Local Climate Action Group;
• connecting with other members of the Pact community at events.

By following these steps, you will be well placed to benefit from the changes that the Deal will bring and play a part in building a more sustainable Europe.

Ready to get started? Visit the get involved and get inspired pages of the Pact website.