Brussels, 27/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - The link has to be broken between banking and sovereign debt crises, argues the Green 10 network of ten leading environmental NGOs, ahead of the European Council. They contend that governments must regain the ability to implement policies that will transform the EU economy to make it more resource efficient and resilient to worsening environmental conditions. Welcoming the fact that the debate is moving beyond austerity, the NGOs take the view that an EU stimulus agenda, if properly devised, would help solve the interlinked environmental and economic crises. They encourage EU heads of state and government to consider the package of stimulus measures they are putting forward, including:
a green tax shift to address high unemployment and pollution;
conditionality for any financial support to banks to ensure investment in green sectors of the real economy;
priority support to energy savings and renewable technology, sustainable transport and renewable energy infrastructure for electric vehicles;
no public subsidies for fossil fuels and unsustainable activities;
green public procurement as a fundamental principle to boost the economy;
a continental tax or levy on financial transactions to provide additional financing for green stimulus measures and to fight climate change;
supporting sustainable activity in rural and maritime regions.
As Europe faces critical economic challenges, including rising unemployment and dwindling natural resources, the Green 10 network says that any stimulus plan must halt the destruction of natural wealth and its harmful effects on human health, and create millions of jobs in green sectors, such as renewable energy and energy savings, nature conservation and restoration, and sustainable transport. The Green 10 network comprises Birdlife International, Climate Action Network Europe, CEE Bankwatch Network, European Environmental Bureau, Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace, Health and Environment Alliance, Naturefriends International, Transport and Environment, and WWF. (AN/transl.rt)