A well-functioning labour market is one of the pillars of Europe's competitiveness and prosperity, and underpins its social contract. When this breaks down, the costs of failed businesses, lost years, and dreams unrealised is immense, and a potent driver of voter dissatisfaction. The gravity of this social dimension cannot be overstated — Earth4All, an international economic research initiative, finds that with business as usual, social tipping points will be breached before environmental ones. This makes addressing labour market dysfunction all the more urgent. As Draghi and Letta both state in their reports: if Europe is to successfully navigate the ongoing digital and green transitions, it needs a labour market that works.

The purpose of this contribution linked to material science-based targets is an effort to give natural resources, and in particular material management, proper recognition and attention in the policy space. This is currently lacking and not matching the already recognised importance given to the energy transition and to limiting the GHG emissions. Both are critically important, but not sufficient, for the needed environmental and social sustainability breakthrough.

Following today’s vote in the European Parliament, the Systems Transformation Hub congratulates Ursula von der Leyen on her second term as President of the European Commission. "This reappointment provides an encouraging and hopeful sign to advance the EU’s green and social agendas as represented in the European Green Deal," said the leaders of the Hub, which include Sandrine Dixson-Declève of Club of Rome, Kirsten Dunlop of Climate-KIC, Eva Gladek of Metabolic, Janez Potočnik of Systemiq, and Stientje van Veldhoven of World Resources Institute.