The GUE/NGL Group in the European Parliament would like to see the creation of a 'climate emergency' committee within Parliament and will make a request to the Conference of Presidents of the institution's political groups on Thursday 4 July.
This initiative aims to put the European Parliament at the forefront of the fight against global warming through the development of concrete and radical policy proposals and to hold European institutions to account for their inaction, the GUE/NGL announced on Wednesday.
"The newly inaugurated ninth European Parliament has a responsibility to listen to EU citizens´ voices calling for radical action on global warming. The time for inaction and empty talk is over. We need to follow through with a declaration of a climate emergency and take concrete steps to enact legislation that will curb greenhouse gas emissions and achieve carbon neutrality", says Spanish MEP Sira Rego, who was a candidate for the seat, in a statement. He also added, "Time is running out for the future of our planet. Neoliberal solutions and carbon trading are not going to solve this climate crisis".
In 2007, a Parliament Temporary Committee on Climate Change was set up to reflect the strong involvement of MEPs in the fight against global warming and to make recommendations (see EUROPE 9797/10). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)