The European Green Deal seeks to reduce greenhouse emissions and engage citizens and all parts of society to participate in fighting climate change. The goal: Europe shall be the world's first climate-neutral continent. Indeed, the climate emergency has mobilised the EU to commit to a target of climate neutrality across all member states by 2050.
As part of this objective, MEPs voted on 7th October 2020 with a 392 majority to amend the EU’s climate target for 2030, supporting a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the decade, up from 40% formerly.
Now it’s your turn: How can we resolve the climate emergency before it’s too late? What would a young European Green Deal look like?
- If you built a young European Green Deal against climate change, what would you focus on?
- How can the European Parliament encourage Member States to become climate neutral by 2050?
- Could the EU impose sanctions on Member States who fail to work towards these new targets?
- Can global enterprises be influenced by the EU to accept greater responsibility in the fight to climate neutrality by 2050?
27th November Euroscola Session
Environment and climate change
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The climate crisis is really crutial in our age, but the virus now there is a probably even bigger and more urgent crisis. Due to the COVID, companies started using disposable bags, boxes, cutlery, etc, so that they dicrease the possibility of spread. The question is, whether we should keep in mind the climate crisis or the dangers of the virus?
The Eu Green Deal is a really exciting decision to cope with the climate crisis.
When componing it, what solutions did you come up with, concerning the fact that this decision is a radical and probably has many deterioative consequences
(Such as closing workplaces, banning non-reusable equipments, and the distribution of internal combustion engine, etc.)
When componing it, what solutions did you come up with, concerning the fact that this decision is a radical and probably has many deterioative consequences
(Such as closing workplaces, banning non-reusable equipments, and the distribution of internal combustion engine, etc.)
We the pupils of the "EU-class" at Peter-Vischer-Schule think that in order to protect our climate, coal phase-out is pivotal. We must not waste any more time and reach this goal before 2038 and after that we have to continuously support sources of renewable energy! Besides, the private economy sector has to become climate neutral and all measurements taken must be decided on independantly from our economy in general - through laws rather than certificates. These could result in the restriction of the the use of plastic packaging, for example, which also is one amongst many important steps that have to be made. We demand that any violation of such laws will consequently be prosecuted and the fines shall be reinvested into climate friendly energy sources!
If you built a young European Green Deal against climate change, what would you focus on?
I would focus on making the schools and universities eco-friendly so that our generation would become used to live with the minimum waste and then trough life we would automatically implement that on our environment of work, in our house and influence older generations to. For start something really basic that doesnt always happen is separate the garbage that we do on our daily routine, this is the base not trhowing garbage on the floor. Such as there is a lot of people that ignore this basic rule, something that could really help is the schools or even the students encouraging to form groups of people to make actions like collecting trash from beachs, city centers or other places that are usually more polluted.
I would focus on making the schools and universities eco-friendly so that our generation would become used to live with the minimum waste and then trough life we would automatically implement that on our environment of work, in our house and influence older generations to. For start something really basic that doesnt always happen is separate the garbage that we do on our daily routine, this is the base not trhowing garbage on the floor. Such as there is a lot of people that ignore this basic rule, something that could really help is the schools or even the students encouraging to form groups of people to make actions like collecting trash from beachs, city centers or other places that are usually more polluted.
Have you heard of these two young Hungarian women who fight against plastic waste with their Bacterial Coctail? Do you support them in carrying out their goal?
https://hungarytoday.hu/hungarian-women-poliloop-fight-plastic-waste-bacterial-cocktail/
https://hypeandhyper.com/en/plastic-eating-bacteria-poliloop/
https://hungarytoday.hu/hungarian-women-poliloop-fight-plastic-waste-bacterial-cocktail/
https://hypeandhyper.com/en/plastic-eating-bacteria-poliloop/
As we know, in agriculture in the course of soil cultivation a huge amount of greenhouse gases (Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Methane) gets into the atmosphere.Soil can absorb a lot of greenhouse gases, so it would be worth to transform it from emitter to host medium.
Does the European Parliament have an action plan to support the transformation of agricultural industry during which the existing production system can be transformed into a less greenhouse emitting system while maintaining high quality?
There have been researches to achieve this goal and they are still being carried out. Measuring equipments are available on the market for collecting information and research institutes are in operation.
Does the European Parliament have an action plan to support the transformation of agricultural industry during which the existing production system can be transformed into a less greenhouse emitting system while maintaining high quality?
There have been researches to achieve this goal and they are still being carried out. Measuring equipments are available on the market for collecting information and research institutes are in operation.
We are students from a region in Slovakia where lignite mining expanded in the 1950s. The lignite has since been burned in a nearby thermal power plant and only in recent years the mining of low-quality brown coal has been suppressed. The damage caused by the production of electricity from these fossil fuels is uncontrollable – the contaminated soil, decline of bees, damage to habitats, subsidence of mined areas, deterioration of human health, etc. We are in favour of the EU addressing the issue of renewable energy as a matter of priority - we would like to see the landscape revitalized in our area and the power plant to produce electricity, for example, from hydrogen (so-called green hydrogen), which is obtained by the sun and wind. We know that the development of "green" hydrogen production is not yet far enough to be fully exploited. We are aware of some interesting opinions on the production of green hydrogen, e. g. using the desert areas and water from the oceans. The issue of hydrogen transport also needs to be addressed. We believe this should be a priority of the EU Green Deal.
We also suggest that the EU gives more support to the production and sale of low-energy equipment - e.g. just a small thing like an LED light bulb is much more expensive in the store than a classic light bulb.
Another area is the development of packaging – we would like to see it produced from materials that can be reused and are easily recyclable or decomposable, so they are more environmentally friendly. Manufacturers should be motivated to use plastic packaging on their products in a reasonable way and with respect for the environment.
EU countries that do not try to achieve the goal of being carbon neutral should be sanctioned. What would be the measurement tools? This is quite difficult to determine. The EU should present concrete measurable points in this area.
Businesses should take more responsibility for tackling the climate crisis. On the other hand, if they reduce carbon emissions, they should benefit from bigger tax relief. Other efforts (e. g. allowing the premises for auditing to avoid unnecessary lighting or smoking, reducing the need to fly, replacing conferences or meetings with video calls or ensuring public transport of employees to the workplace) should also be appreciated.
Tamara Klučiarová Business academy Prievidza, Slovakia
We also suggest that the EU gives more support to the production and sale of low-energy equipment - e.g. just a small thing like an LED light bulb is much more expensive in the store than a classic light bulb.
Another area is the development of packaging – we would like to see it produced from materials that can be reused and are easily recyclable or decomposable, so they are more environmentally friendly. Manufacturers should be motivated to use plastic packaging on their products in a reasonable way and with respect for the environment.
EU countries that do not try to achieve the goal of being carbon neutral should be sanctioned. What would be the measurement tools? This is quite difficult to determine. The EU should present concrete measurable points in this area.
Businesses should take more responsibility for tackling the climate crisis. On the other hand, if they reduce carbon emissions, they should benefit from bigger tax relief. Other efforts (e. g. allowing the premises for auditing to avoid unnecessary lighting or smoking, reducing the need to fly, replacing conferences or meetings with video calls or ensuring public transport of employees to the workplace) should also be appreciated.
Tamara Klučiarová Business academy Prievidza, Slovakia
• If you built a young European Green Deal against climate change, what would you focus on?
We need to focus on reducing the CO2 emission. To help that, we should enlarge, cheapen and promote public transport as well as increase the price of fuel, to reduce the usage of cars and planes. We should use more renewable energy and restrict the plastic consumerism. Speaking of consumerism: A lot of CO2 is produced in the meat-industry. We think it is important to stop making meat an everyday-thing, which would be achieved by raising its price. That would lead to people consuming it less which also leads to a decreased amount of meat that is needed in the first place. Besides meat there are other products that leave an enormous economical footprint – make those more expensive as well! Having greener cities with many trees would also be a good way to reduce CO2.
• How can the European Parliament encourage Member States to become climate neutral by 2050?
First of all , we think it is important to inform about the worst-case-scenario if people don’t change anything about their lifestyle and to spread awareness about climate change in general.
Countries that work hard on being climate neutral by 2050 and focus on working towards that target more than others, should get extra bonus on for example taxes or marketing. If becoming climate neutral becomes a competition, states all over the world will get motivated and help to save the planet.
• Could the EU impose sanctions on Member States who fail to work towards these new targets?
In our opinion, the EU should be allowed to impose sanctions on Member States who fail to work towards these new targets in order to create a whole united Europe, which follows the same rules and laws.
• Can global enterprises be influenced by the EU to accept greater responsibility in the fight to climate neutrality by 2050?
Global enterprises can be motivated by being supported by the EU, to make their company more eco-friendly. New entrepreneurs should be helped to start and run their company in a climate friendly way.
We need to focus on reducing the CO2 emission. To help that, we should enlarge, cheapen and promote public transport as well as increase the price of fuel, to reduce the usage of cars and planes. We should use more renewable energy and restrict the plastic consumerism. Speaking of consumerism: A lot of CO2 is produced in the meat-industry. We think it is important to stop making meat an everyday-thing, which would be achieved by raising its price. That would lead to people consuming it less which also leads to a decreased amount of meat that is needed in the first place. Besides meat there are other products that leave an enormous economical footprint – make those more expensive as well! Having greener cities with many trees would also be a good way to reduce CO2.
• How can the European Parliament encourage Member States to become climate neutral by 2050?
First of all , we think it is important to inform about the worst-case-scenario if people don’t change anything about their lifestyle and to spread awareness about climate change in general.
Countries that work hard on being climate neutral by 2050 and focus on working towards that target more than others, should get extra bonus on for example taxes or marketing. If becoming climate neutral becomes a competition, states all over the world will get motivated and help to save the planet.
• Could the EU impose sanctions on Member States who fail to work towards these new targets?
In our opinion, the EU should be allowed to impose sanctions on Member States who fail to work towards these new targets in order to create a whole united Europe, which follows the same rules and laws.
• Can global enterprises be influenced by the EU to accept greater responsibility in the fight to climate neutrality by 2050?
Global enterprises can be motivated by being supported by the EU, to make their company more eco-friendly. New entrepreneurs should be helped to start and run their company in a climate friendly way.
You surely heard about that Hungary and Poland don't accept the new budget plan of the EU.
In the budget, much money is planned for the realization of the European Green Deal.
In my opinion it would be much better, if the unanimity of all members of the EU wouldn't be necessary to decide things that influences the climate politic.
The veto of Hungary and Poland slows down the whole European Green Deal.
What do you think about it?
In the budget, much money is planned for the realization of the European Green Deal.
In my opinion it would be much better, if the unanimity of all members of the EU wouldn't be necessary to decide things that influences the climate politic.
The veto of Hungary and Poland slows down the whole European Green Deal.
What do you think about it?
I believe that it’s exceedingly important to encourage every Member State to become climate neutral by at least 2050. We need for every Member State to take their responsibility to fight climate change for us to have a chance of a better future. The European Parliament can encourage every state to take their responsibility by rewarding Member States who think about their actions to a greater extent with money for example. By rewarding states who do the most they can based on their individual situation, other states will be encouraged to do the same. I believe that rewarding states for doing their best, instead of punishing them for not doing anything, is better. Giving rewards will lead to a more positive view on our ability as a union to fight this problem we face together. By giving positive consequences to helping the EU fight this problem, more Member States are going to help out.
When it comes to encouraging the Member States to become climate neutral by 2050 it is really important. They have to be climate neutral before 2050 because if they dont the climate will just keep getting worse and worse and soon enough it will be too late to start doing something about it. Here are some examples of how the European Parliament can encourage Member States to become climate neutral by 2050.
First of all they can have an ultimatum or a punishment. The punishment may be that if they don't agree to it they will no longer be a member of the EU. This will probably decrease freerides in the Member States. Having a reward like money can also be a plan. If you get a reward for something you do, you often get more motivation to do it.
We can encourage member states by helping them with more climate friendly resources or choices. We can encourage them to use solar energy, geothermal power or wind power instead of using power systems that use much energy and affect our climate in a negative way. We can also encourage member states to start recycling things. By recycling we can make the world better by not throwing plastics, glass and metal in the sea or anywhere in nature. We can recycle things which will lead to saving nature resources and especially the animals in the ocean.
Spreading more information can also be a way. By spreading information about how the climate is right now and how the climate will be in a few years if we keep doing what we do right now it can encourage people to do something. By this, people will realize how badly we need to start doing something about it right now and not any time later. If you have seen these videos on social media where people have been able to show how the climate will look in a few years, you know that it is awful. We need to start doing something today before it's too late, unless it's already too late.
First of all they can have an ultimatum or a punishment. The punishment may be that if they don't agree to it they will no longer be a member of the EU. This will probably decrease freerides in the Member States. Having a reward like money can also be a plan. If you get a reward for something you do, you often get more motivation to do it.
We can encourage member states by helping them with more climate friendly resources or choices. We can encourage them to use solar energy, geothermal power or wind power instead of using power systems that use much energy and affect our climate in a negative way. We can also encourage member states to start recycling things. By recycling we can make the world better by not throwing plastics, glass and metal in the sea or anywhere in nature. We can recycle things which will lead to saving nature resources and especially the animals in the ocean.
Spreading more information can also be a way. By spreading information about how the climate is right now and how the climate will be in a few years if we keep doing what we do right now it can encourage people to do something. By this, people will realize how badly we need to start doing something about it right now and not any time later. If you have seen these videos on social media where people have been able to show how the climate will look in a few years, you know that it is awful. We need to start doing something today before it's too late, unless it's already too late.
We do not think countries within the EU should be able to be free riders. Everyone needs to participate if we are going to be able to minimize climate change, and if some countries work well and put a lot of effort into reaching the goal whilst some other countries do not - we will not reach our goals. Being a free rider implies that you do not contribute, with for example money or resources, and let other parties, in this case countries, do the work. We do not believe it is fair to be a free rider, and therefore think the EU should establish a reward system and sanctions amongst the countries within the EU.
Establishing a reward system and sanctions with the countries within the community will remove the problem of free riders. The reward system implicates that the more a country is trying to reach the climate change goals, the greater influence they will gain in the EU which enables them to have a bigger impact on the union.
The EU should impose sanctions on countries that do not work towards reaching the climate change goals, and free riders. We have a proposition for an economic sanction. The EU should calculate how much it will cost for each country to adapt and change so that the emissions will decrease. If one country does not participate in trying to get rid of fossil fuels, they will have to pay the same amount of money that the EU calculated the change to fossil free would cost for that specific country.
Establishing a reward system and sanctions with the countries within the community will remove the problem of free riders. The reward system implicates that the more a country is trying to reach the climate change goals, the greater influence they will gain in the EU which enables them to have a bigger impact on the union.
The EU should impose sanctions on countries that do not work towards reaching the climate change goals, and free riders. We have a proposition for an economic sanction. The EU should calculate how much it will cost for each country to adapt and change so that the emissions will decrease. If one country does not participate in trying to get rid of fossil fuels, they will have to pay the same amount of money that the EU calculated the change to fossil free would cost for that specific country.
Our proposition for a more sustainable climate is to promote vegetarian food and establish taxes on meat to lower the consumtion and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. We also want to encourage education about the consequences of the climate change and how it will effect the climate. We would as well like to increase recycling and to pay more attention to second hand instead of buying everything new. 100% renewable energy should also be a priority. Renewable enegry is an endless source of power and it doesn´t affect the climate in a negative way.
Ways to fight climate change in the EU (from Finland's point of view)
- limit the use of fossil fuels by:
- raising (gas) prices
- member countries should have restrictions on fossil fuels
- strict sanctions on countries that don't do their part
- increase the amount of carbon sinks
- encourage vegetarian/vegan diet
- taking into account the different resources that countries have to make changes
- develop circular economy
- new uses for plastic waste
- using funds to make for example airplanes more efficient
- ecologically sustainable economic growth
- making decision making quicker
- changing people's opinions and educating them
- limit the use of fossil fuels by:
- raising (gas) prices
- member countries should have restrictions on fossil fuels
- strict sanctions on countries that don't do their part
- increase the amount of carbon sinks
- encourage vegetarian/vegan diet
- taking into account the different resources that countries have to make changes
- develop circular economy
- new uses for plastic waste
- using funds to make for example airplanes more efficient
- ecologically sustainable economic growth
- making decision making quicker
- changing people's opinions and educating them
How can we talk about climate change and reduction of pollution when some things among others still remain too offensive for the whole nature? Can we think about the fact that some products cost way much more being "dead" than being "alive"? I totally mean wood or whale oil, because they are amazingly expensive if we think their resources, which are 100% natural (trees and whales). When people kill alive organisms to produce artificial products and make them cost more than their natural resources, they underestimate and undertake the nature, first of all. Maybe there should be taken some measures like making this system upside down and if people really want to sell our natural parts, lets make them do it with morality and make artificial products cost less than physical. This way, people would appreciate more our natural habitat and world.
Hello my name is nikos , I'm from Greece I live in a city with lots of power plants who are using lignite i belive that this resource is not unlimited . FURTHERMORE ligninte when it burns it creates fumes which effects badly to Human breathing system. But greek gorvement with European help find the solution fo create filters in order to reduce the pollution in the atmosphere (Greenhouse) . But I think is time for revolution he have to find new resources like water , air . And I believe that we can research Tesla coil which can collect the electric power of lighting strikes that can be a new resource which can feed the planet with electricity without cost we have to find a solution to make Green the world with resources with a little cost we have to act now!!
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