With less than two weeks to go until EU citizens elect a new European Parliament, 277 MEP candidates have declared their support for urgent action on climate and energy through signing CAN Europe’s Climate Pledge. Candidates from all of the big five European political groups have pledged their support for urgent action on climate and energy [1]. The signed up candidates, coming from 24 out of the 28 member states, have committed to taking immediate action on climate change should they be elected for the new term [2].
Wendel Trio, Director of CAN Europe said: “In signing the Climate Pledge, candidates have publically recognised the urgency of dealing with the climate and energy crisis, and have given their personal commitment to taking the political action required.”
The Climate Pledge calls for candidates to recognise the cost of climate change for European and its people in terms of health, jobs and energy security. It also calls for recognition of the growing impacts of climate change in developing countries where support for climate action is essential. If elected, candidates have agreed to support the creation of a clear roadmap towards decarbonising Europe through taking specific actions [3].
Wendel Trio added: “Returning and new MEPs will need to work from day one to ensure ambitious and binding post-2020 greenhouse gas, renewable energy and energy efficiency targets are delivered.”
The European elections will take place from 22-25 May, and will result in 751 MEPs being elected to represent more than 500 million European citizens in 28 member states.
Who has signed the pledge so far?
Notes:
[1] The five biggest political groups are the: European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE).
[2] Currently, no candidates from Cyprus, Latvia, Portugal or Romania have signed. See our interactive map for full details: https://caneurope.org/voteforclimateaction/index.php?gktab=4
[3] The actions include: supporting the organisation of an urgency debate on climate action at the start of the European Parliament’s activities, making support for adequate climate change action a prerequisite for supporting nominations of any new member of the European Commission and supporting the adoption by the European Parliament of a position that addresses the urgent need for stronger climate action in the EU. This position will support a post-2020 climate and energy policy framework that includes ambitious and binding targets on the following: greenhouse gas emission reductions, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Read the full pledge text here: https://caneurope.org/voteforclimateaction/index.php?gktab=4
Contact:
Wendel Trio, Director of CAN Europe, wendel@caneurope.org, +32 473 17 08 87
Matthew Keys, Communications Officer, matthew@caneurope.org, +32 2 894 46 73
Follow the Vote For Climate Action campaign via @CANEurope and the hashtag #ClimatePledge.
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe’s largest coalition working on climate and energy issues. With over 120 member organisations in more than 25 European countries, CAN Europe works to prevent dangerous climate change and promote sustainable climate and energy policy in Europe.
