On Tuesday 14 April, 180 European stakeholders pledged to work together for a green recovery from the coronavirus crisis in the interest of a more resilient economy.
Ministers from 11 countries, 79 cross-party MEPs from 17 European countries, 37 CEOs, 28 business associations representing 10 sectors, the European Trade Union Confederation, seven NGOs and six think tanks signed an op-ed committing themselves to create, support and implement solutions to prepare economies for the world of tomorrow.
This European Alliance for Green Recovery wishes to “build a shared reflection on post-crisis green investment plans” and propose “the necessary investment solutions aligned with climate commitments”.
“There will be a before and after the COVID-19 crisis. We are choosing to accelerate the ecological transition when the time comes to reinvest in the economy. Together, we must fight and defeat the two crises: the COVID-19 crisis and the climate crisis”, says Pascal Canfin, Chairman of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, who took the initiative to form this alliance.
“The transformation to a carbon-neutral economy, more sustainable agricultural systems and the protection of biodiversity have the potential to rapidly create jobs, prosperity and improve the quality of life of citizens. This is how we will build more resilient societies”, the signatories stress.
The op-ed was published simultaneously in Le Monde (France), La Libre Belgique, Corriere della Sera (Italy), Publico (Portugal), SEM (Slovakia), Politico, and El Diario (Spain). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)