Looking ahead to the European elections next May, Green 10, the coalition of ten largest European environmental NGOs, calls on all political groups at the European Parliament, all the candidates to the elections and all European leaders to make protection of the environment and climate action absolute priorities for the EU.
For these organisations, it is essential to have a Europe that protects and drives ahead towards sustainable development, in line with the universal agenda up to 2030 and the requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement. They also consider the elections as an opportunity to be seized in order to have a fairer and more democratic European Union.
Their recommendations are set out in the Green 10 Manifesto, published on 6 September, which includes other priorities such as: - better governance but not deregulation; - a European Union that upholds rule of law and strengthens civil society; - and a European Commission that is accountable and exemplary.
In the manifesto, Green 10 highlights the 10 advantages this would have for citizens and the planet as a whole, and sets out in detail what the EU must do in order to have: - EU leadership in combating climate change; - healthy ecosystems; - pure air for all; - EU leadership in clean transport; - a European budget to address global and environmental challenges; - a Europe that is “detoxed” of chemical products that pollute the environment and threaten public health; - a circular and clean economy; - a more transparent, more democratic and more responsible Europe; - trade deals that work for people not big business; - and a sustainable Europe that respects the planetary boundaries. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)