2026/01/26 by Ekaterina Domorenok, Franco Gatti · 1 voice · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Environmental Science · #Quality of Life Measurement #Sustainability and Climate Change Governance #European Union Policy and Governance
paper · pdf · doi:10.1002/epa2.70035
openalex publication_date 2026/01/26 · openalex created_date 2026/01/27 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
ABSTRACT While the European Green Deal (EGD) has been widely recognized as a milestone in the EU's sustainability strategy, scholars disagree on the nature of the policy change it represents. Critics highlight its limited social and environmental ambitions, despite its portrayal as a “man on the moon” moment. Using a policy‐paradigm lens, this study analyses the European Commission's EGD legislative package during the first 2 years after its adoption, focusing on discourse, policy instruments, and strategies for building political and societal support. The findings reveal the emergence of a new policy narrative integrating environmental sustainability, economic growth, and social inclusion, supported by revised instruments and political efforts to advance a “beyond‐growth” agenda. These developments suggest an incremental paradigmatic shift, the full implications of which will only become clear over time.