The European Commission will propose on Tuesday (14 January) how the EU can pay for shifting the region's economy to net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050 while protecting coal-dependent regions from taking the brunt of changes aimed at fighting climate change.

The EU executive is to unveil details of its Sustainable Europe Investment Plan, aimed at mobilising investment of 1 trillion euros over 10 years, using public and private money to help finance its flagship project – the European Green Deal.

The "Green Deal" is an ambitious rethinking of Europe's economy, transport and energy sectors aimed at turning the EU into a global leader on the clean technologies that will shape the coming decades.