No More Empty Promises

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On November 28, 2019, the European Parliament declared a climate emergency. Following pressure from the Greens, the European Commission proposed a European Climate law, that was described by Greta Thunberg and youth climate activists as a surrender. Despite the Corona pandemic, in October 2020, the European Parliament passed substantial improvements. 
We set the tone for rebuilding through high climate targets, strong climate instruments and financing. To meet the climate emergency, swift decisions are now needed, but the 27 EU heads of state and government are blocking progress in the final negotiations. The directly elected Parliament position must be taken into account when making decisions on climate. 

The EU Parliament demands


  • A strong climate target of minus 60 percent greenhouse gases by 2030 – without accounting tricks!
  • A greenhouse gas budget that tells us how much emissions we can still emit to meet the 1.5 degree climate target. Based on this analysis, future climate targets such as the 2040 target much be set.
  • An independent scientific climate council that keeps an eye on whether the EU is on track to meet its climate commitments.
  • A ban on fossil fuel subsidies so that emissions fall and clean solutions drive the economy forward and make people’s lives better.
  • Establish the right to a healthy planet.

👉 Read the EU Parliament’s draft law here

This is a first step to address the climate emergency. Our study by Cambridge Econometrics shows that strong climate targets are a boost to the economy, thereby benefiting people’s lives and avoiding the worst impacts of the climate emergency. In plain language, by 2030


  • Over a million jobs will be created – primarily in renewables, but also in manufacturing including the car industry.
  • The economy will grow by 1.8 percent – more than with the lackluster climate target proposed by the EU Commission.
  • Investments are increasing and bringing us into the age of renewable energy.
  • We can cover 80 percent of our electricity needs across the EU with renewables.
  • And we would build only electric cars from 2030 onwards.

Read the full study here

Lire l’étude en français / Lest die ganze Studie hier


Next Step?
The 27 EU heads of state and government must stop their blockade attitude and finally deliver. Flowery words alone will not protect the climate. We need a strong climate law. We owe it to the climate, we promised it to European citizens, now it just needs to be implemented politically.