The outcome reached in early November by EU environment ministers, after an intense series of negotiations, represents a compromise between the widely differing positions expressed by various member states, in addition to the political demands now inextricably linked to environmental protection, the fight against climate change, and technological neutrality.
In previous phases, to accommodate governments opposed to overly onerous targets, EU authorities had envisaged that a 3% reduction could be achieved through environmental projects organized in third countries (i.e., international credits). This quota will now be increased to 5%, thus reducing the overall "domestic" share of the target to be achieved to 85%. Furthermore, the agreement leaves open the possibility for an additional 5% to be outsourced, potentially lowering the domestic target to just 80%.
A political climate that has reshaped the conversation
This shift must be read in the context of an increasingly polarized political landscape.
The return of Donald Trump to the White House has strengthened sceptical positions inside Europe, particularly on the far right, where arguments about the “cost” of climate ambition have gained traction. Economic pressures have added further weight to these concerns: the energy shock triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the subsequent cost-of-living crisis, and a widespread fear that Europe may lose competitiveness vis-à-vis China and the United States.
Many governments that had initially supported ambitious climate targets are now more cautious. Across most of the EU, there is growing concern that very stringent commitments - without adequate economic safeguards - could weaken Europe’s industrial base over the next decades. Energy-intensive sectors such as steel, cement, chemicals and aluminium are particularly exposed. And while Europe tightens regulation, China and the United States continue to scale up green technologies with large subsidies and industrial incentives, widening the competitive gap.
The Clean Industrial Deal: positioning decarbonisation as a growth strategy
The EU Clean Industrial Deal, presented in February 2025, is called to respond to these issues by "outlining concrete actions to turn decarbonization into a driver of growth for European industries." The Clean Industrial Deal presents measures to boost every stage of production in the EU, with a focus on energy-intensive industries such as steel, metals, and chemicals that urgently need support to decarbonize, switch to clean energy, and tackle high costs, unfair global competition, and complex regulations. Also in the spotlight is the clean-tech sector, “which is at the heart of future competitiveness and necessary for industrial transformation, circularity, and decarbonization.”
Moreover, the initiative aimed at mobilizing over €100 billion to support EU-made clean manufacturing. The Clean Industrial Deal introduces a new state aid framework to speed up approvals for renewable energy deployment, industrial decarbonization, and the expansion of clean tech manufacturing capacity. It also strengthens the Innovation Fund and proposes the creation of an industrial decarbonization bank, drawing on available funds, revenues from the Emissions Trading System (ETS), and a revised InvestEU program to reach the €100 billion funding goal. Still, some analysis of the Clean Industrial Deal, while acknowledging the successful identification of the obstacles and bottlenecks to European competitiveness, criticizes the approach of the EU initiative, arguing that the solutions appear overly broad. At the same time, the Clean Industrial Deal fails to identify the key elements that make each intervention concretely relevant to the industrial context, as the ECCO think tank states.
Digital companies as key enablers of real decarbonisation
In this debate, software and digital companies have a crucial role. Their technologies can deliver real, scalable decarbonisation effects across entire value chains — not just within their own operations.
Advanced analytics, AI and digital twins help industries optimise energy use, reduce waste, and improve process efficiency: often delivering emissions reductions far greater than what hardware upgrades alone can achieve. Cloud platforms, when powered by renewable energy and designed for efficiency, offer computing with lower carbon intensity than fragmented on-premise systems. Digital tools also support real-time monitoring and transparent environmental reporting - key prerequisites if Europe’s decarbonisation plans are to be credible, measurable and long-lasting.
This is why the intersection between digital innovation and environmental policy is emerging as one of the most promising leverage points to align sustainability and competitiveness.
CLIMINVEST: making climate adaptation “bankable” — and replicable
In that spirit, Maggioli is active in CLIMINVEST, a new Horizon Europe-funded project spearheading a transformation in how climate adaptation is financed and implemented. CLIMINVEST aims to create “bankable-by-design” solutions, combining technical, financial and ESG criteria in climate-resilient investments. The goal is to build a marketplace of scalable adaptation solutions - from energy-efficient infrastructure to climate-resilient urban planning - that are both environmentally sound and investment-ready.
Thanks to this approach, CLIMINVEST lowers barriers to funding, supports replication across regions and gives public authorities and private investors concrete, financially viable tools to tackle climate change together.
Working with Europe's ambitions - and turning them into impact
Against the backdrop of Europe’s climate and industrial agenda, Maggioli contributes by working where digital innovation meets environmental impact - helping administrations and communities adopt solutions that are both effective and practical.
One of the most relevant examples is CityBIT, the Group’s advanced monitoring platform designed to track environmental parameters and territorial dynamics. Its recent deployment in the Campi Flegrei area to monitor CO₂ emissions linked to bradyseism shows how digital systems can support risk assessment, territorial resilience and informed decision-making.
In contexts where climate stress, seismic activity or environmental variability intersect, such tools offer public authorities the ability to anticipate rather than react.
Alongside monitoring technologies, Maggioli supports sustainability through the digitalisation of public services. Solutions such as the Sportello Telematico Polifunzionale reduce unnecessary travel, cut emissions and streamline interactions between citizens and administrations. The digital transformation of public archives helps institutions reduce paper usage, free physical space and move towards more efficient, climate-friendly operating models.