CAN Europe: In the eye of the storm
Photo courtesy of CAN Europe
However we look at it, we cannot fool ourselves into thinking that the political fight for enhancing climate action has advanced a lot in Europe over the past year. We need to therefore seek out the potential for positive change that still exists in Europe.
The three EU decision making institutions (i.e., European Commission, Council and Parliament) seem to be in agreement that moving beyond the current 20% 2020 reduction target will not happen any time soon. A modest reference to deeper European reductions was solidly blocked by Poland at the June Environmental Council. Two weeks later the European Parliament’s conservative majority, enticed by Europe’s big industrial polluters, muted the Parliament in expressing such an opinion on enhanced climate action. The European Commission remains deeply divided on the same issue. Last but not least, the current Polish EU presidency gives us little hope of seeing a major change in Europe’s willingness to move towards more climate action in the next six months.
Indeed, these realities are planting seeds of doubt in the minds of progressive policy makers, stakeholders and the NGO community at large: should we stop working on climate targets? Must we give up on the European project, which led the way for more climate action, and instead invest more in actions at national and regional levels? Do we refocus on the supporting policies that bring about more energy efficiency and, if implemented correctly, fewer greenhouse gas emissions? Or is it just a case of focussing more on greenhouse gas targets, including being more explicit about the CAN-E 40% 2020 reduction ask?
These are all valid questions, which will underscore the strength of CAN-Europe and the NGO community if we face them head-on.
Reposted from our partners at CAN (Climate Action Network) Europe. Read more on their site.
Category: News
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TckTckTck is the public campaign of the Global Campaign for Climate Action. The GCCA is an unprecedented alliance of more than 300 non-profit organizations all over the world. Our shared mission is to mobilize civil society and galvanize public support to ensure a safe climate future for people and nature, to promote the low-carbon transition of our economies, and to accelerate the adaptation efforts in communities already affected by climate change.View Author Profile
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