The European Commission has decided to register a new European citizens’ initiative focusing on climate change.
The organisers of the initiative call on the European Commission ‘to strengthen action on the climate emergency in line with the 1.5° warming limit. This means more ambitious climate goals and financial support for climate action’.
In particular, the initiative focuses on the need for the EU to ‘adjust its goals (NDC) under the Paris Agreement to an 80% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, to reach net-0 by 2035 and adjust European climate legislation accordingly.’
The initiative also refers to the implementation of an EU Border Carbon Adjustment, free trade agreements with partner countries based on Climate Action Tracker and free educational materials on the effects of climate change.
Under the EU Treaties, the European Commission can take legal action with the aim of preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment as well as in the area of the common commercial policy.
The Commission said it considered the initiative legally admissible and has decided to register it.
The registration of this initiative will take place on 23 September 2019, starting a 1-year process of collection of signatures of support by its organisers.
