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The window for stopping a runaway climate crisis is closing rapidly. Europeans and communities across the globe are increasingly suffering from extreme weather events such as droughts, heatwaves, floodings and forest fires. Meanwhile the loss of ecosystems and biodiversity continues apace, endangering our livelihoods and further amplifying the impacts of the climate emergency. To compound matters, we are grappling with the lasting impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, war on our borders, and a cost of living crisis driven by our fossil fuel dependency.
Amidst these challenging times, the new European Parliament’s term (2024-2029) provides the chance to formulate a coherent response - and offer people hope for a safer, more equitable future. With the right actions, political leaders hold the power to improve the wellbeing and safety of people across the globe, and increase Europe’s autonomy and resilience.
In 2019, the EU elections triggered the inception of the European Green Deal - a meaningful step towards tackling the twin climate and biodiversity crises. Following the 2024 EU elections, political leaders must build on this vision, and ensure all sectors and systems finally become part of the transition.
For the next five years, the EU must make a priority out of fundamentally redesigning its economy to more rapidly wean our dependence off fossil fuels and make full use of the benefits provided by healthy ecosystems. This includes addressing inequalities and ensuring the most vulnerable communities and small businesses do not carry the heaviest burdens of climate and nature action. Sustainable living needs to be made easy, affordable and attractive for everyone.
Leaders must bring an end to reckless calls for a ‘pause’ on further environmental measures, and promoting deregulation, whether it is on nature or on climate. Such actions endanger people’s safety and well-being - and are misplaced as global efforts to date are woefully insufficient and we remain far off course from meeting international commitments to keep global warming to 1.5°C and halt and reverse nature loss.
WWF asks that all political parties and leaders highlight how their proposals will guarantee the EU rapidly ends its dependence on fossil fuels and builds an affordable clean renewable energy future for all - to ensure our economies are resilient to energy crises, to help stop runaway climate change, and create a healthier environment. Such proposals must also make clear how the needs of workers and communities will be fully addressed during the huge changes that the transition will involve.
As a priority, the EU must set a target of reaching climate neutrality by 2040, to keep the objective of 1.5°C within reach and comply with the Paris Climate Agreement, in order to avoid the worst of the climate crisis.
To end its fossil fuel dependence, the EU must also:
Set a target of halving EU energy consumption and reaching a 100% renewable energy system by 2040, based on well-planned, nature-safe deployment of solar and wind on land and at sea.
Set target dates for ending coal, gas and oil use, in that order while helping the most vulnerable households in accessing clean and affordable energy.
Limit the oversized influence of fossil fuel industries by taxing fossil fuel windfall profits, by banning their use of advertising and sponsorship, and by introducing tighter public scrutiny and proactive transparency.
WWF asks that all political parties and leaders highlight how their proposals will harness the social, economic and environmental benefits provided by healthy ecosystems on land and in the ocean - which are essential for people’s livelihoods, slowing and adapting to climate change and ensuring our food and water security.
It must realise sustainable food environments and setting science-based quantitative targets for big food manufacturers, caterers, and retailers on sourcing, advertising, promotion and sales of sustainable and healthy food. These targets should be combined with coherent repurposing of subsidies for agriculture production and the implementation of the other Farm to Fork commitments.
To strengthen its resilience, the EU must also:
Double EU and national investments in nature to at least €50 billion annually including by establishing a new EU fund for nature restoration activities undertaken by farmers, foresters, landowners, fishers and coastal communities and ensuring national governments increase the share of gross domestic product invested in nature.
Adopt and implement a new climate adaptation framework that prioritises nature-based solutions to protect Europeans against climate hazards such as more intense and frequent droughts, heatwaves, floods and fires. By better protecting, restoring and managing nature, we can reduce rising temperatures, better retain water, and increase the resilience of crops and abundance of fish - while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and storing increased levels of carbon.
Strengthen the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy in line with the Global Biodiversity Framework, including by ensuring that all EU Member States adopt and implement ambitious national biodiversity strategies and action plans and at least doubling the EU’s international financial support for biodiversity by 2030.
WWF asks that all political parties and leaders highlight how their proposals will help Europeans deal with the rapid socio-economic transition that is now facing us, due to the climate, energy and biodiversity crises, with a focus on vulnerable households and tackling inequalities and an end to hand-outs for big polluters.
To leave no-one behind in the transition, the EU must also:
Mandate large scale, EU funded and easily accessible clean energy and energy saving programmes for citizens that support deep renovation of buildings, access to clean, renewable energy, investment in public and shared transport options, cycling and walking and related infrastructure, and re-skilling and training, so that all Europeans can enjoy the benefits of the green transition and find jobs in the clean industries of the future.
Introduce reforms to support greater citizen participation in policy development and more political transparency at EU and national levels, ensuring equal access to information and justice in environmental matters for all citizens across Europe, adopting an overarching EU strategy that empowers and protects civil society and promoting forms of deliberative democracy, such as the use of citizen assemblies.
Complete a clear transition finance framework for green private finance, ensuring that private financial institutions scale up support for the green transition of companies and stop financing harmful activities, and ensuring that greenwashing is avoided.
