The report explores how to effectively implement the European Green Deal in full consistency with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and showcases an example from the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan, demonstrating a national effort working to align long-term planning with the SDGs.

To live up to the ambition of tackling the urgent climate and environmental crisis, while pursuing economic stability and respecting the Leave No One Behind principle, the European Green Deal should be implemented according to a holistic and cross-sectoral pattern in deep synergy with the SDGs. Adopting the Six Transformations approach, developed by Prof. Jeffrey Sachs and others in 2019, aimed at providing a model for policymakers to address multiple SDGs while minimizing potential trade-offs, this report put forward policy recommendations to ensure that the European Green Deal is applied in full coherence with the SDGs.

The case study of the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan shows how energy and climate action can be successfully integrated within the Six Transformation framework and in line with the European Green Deal’s objectives. In fact, if properly implemented, the Mission of the “Green Revolution and Ecological Transition” in the Plan will have positive spill-over effects in several policy fields, such as a net increase in jobs in the energy sector. Finally, the Italian example can guide other countries wishing to develop a holistic strategy aligned with multiple objectives and goals.