The “Battle of the Green Deal” will also be played out on June 9!
The European Parliament is a key player in European democracy. Indeed, there can be no successful ecological transition for European countries without a parliamentary majority convinced of the urgency of climate change and of the efforts needed to live, produce and consume more responsibly.
The Green Deal is a major issue for Europeans.
Objectivity demands that we acknowledge that the Green Deal was not at the heart of the campaign for the European Parliament elections. Does this mean that all is well in the brave new world? Not really. The relegation of the Green Deal to the status of a minor issue is more than misleading. In fact, climate change continues to have a negative impact on the European continent and beyond.
Apart from frontal criticism motivated by ideological sectarianism rooted in an idealized past, and conservatism tinged with electoral patronage, the silence of electoral programs concerning the future of the Green Deal cannot erase the environmental urgencies of yesterday, let alone those of tomorrow!
Eco-anxiety is now a reality shared by a large proportion of Europe's youth. Moreover, the existence of an environmental conscience common to all European countries can no longer be denied.To forget this would be a major political error for all European political parties and governments, whatever their position on the political spectrum.
The time for hesitation and prevarication is over…
Demagogy, elevated to the rank of doctrine by certain political formations, consists in blaming environmental policies for all the difficulties encountered by European citizens and companies.This demagoguery, coupled with the political weakness of certain European governments anxious not to “make waves”, is not conducive to the shared effectiveness of the strategic orientations defined within the framework of the Green Deal.
However, yesterday, as today, three realities continue to militate in favor of a European ambition that is politically supported by all European players, including political parties.
Let's tame the future so we don't have to endure it...
The Green Deal is not a legal gadget for the European Commission, but an imperative necessity for the European continent. The challenge is simple: to continue to exist in a world undergoing major metamorphosis in terms of climate, geopolitics, geo-economics and technology.
As a reminder, the Green Pact is the only concrete action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. By acting quickly and ambitiously, it will limit the devastating impacts of climate change, such as heat waves, droughts, storms and rising sea levels.
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To date, the Green Deal's detractors have not proposed any alternative measures that would limit the extent of climate change, given that the Green Deal's measures save natural resources that are already limited (such as gas and oil), even though these resources will continue to be indispensable for certain activities.
In addition, the Green Deal protects natural ecosystems (less salinization of the oceans), preserves biodiversity and reduces air and water pollution. In this way, the Green Deal contributes not only to improving health, but also the quality of life of European citizens. Ultimately, better air quality combined with a reduction in environmentally-related illnesses will lead to healthier, more resilient societies in Europe.
Secondly, Green Pact policies stimulate innovation and the creation of new jobs. The transition to a greener, more sustainable economy is creating new job opportunities in sectors such as renewable energies, energy efficiency, clean mobility and waste management. By investing in research and innovation, the Green Pact promotes the development of more sustainable technologies and practices that will strengthen the European Union's competitiveness in the global marketplace.
Last but not least, the implementation of the Green Deal can be a powerful force for democratic cohesion. Indeed, achieving the objectives of the Green Deal promotes good political practice.
Indeed, achieving the objectives of the Green Pact calls for good political practices based on local dialogue, citizen participation, social justice and the reduction of inequalities of all kinds. Let's be clear: mobilizing the European continent for a successful ecological transition will not be possible without the actors of civil society (citizens, businesses, the third sector). Setting up low-emission zones, aiming for zero net land artificialisation, renovating housing identified as a real heat sink, promoting sustainable mobility (bicycles and public transport), developing new forms of energy and the use of new technologies presupposes the mobilization of all civil society players and the targeting of financial investment towards the most vulnerable populations and innovation.
In conclusion, the Green Pact can contribute to reducing inequalities (social and territorial) in a virtuous way, while opening up new prospects for the European economy. It would be a shame to forget this on June 9, because in five years' time it will be too late...
The world of tomorrow has yet to be invented. The European continent has the capacity to do so, the Green Deal gives us the opportunity to do so, can we not have the will to do so? The answer is in the question.
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