The COVID-19 and climate crises are deeply interlinked: both have been borne out of industrial practices that are encroaching on our planetary boundaries and the collective health and wellbeing of animals and humans.
The COVID-19 crisis has not only revealed the direct link between the human encroachment on wildlife habitats and the transmission of deadly viruses from animals to humans, but also that air pollution is enhancing the mortality rate of the virus. Moreover, we know that the consequences of climate change and the dramatic loss of biodiversity we are witnessing are responsible for other major crises which we are and will continue to face at the global level.
We need a recovery that boosts the transition towards a greener, fairer, and more resilient world for future generations. A recovery that seizes the opportunity of once-in-a-generation public investments for the green and energy transition. A recovery where Europe is a leader in the fight against climate change. Now that the EU has a Recovery Plan, how can we ensure that its funds are going where they are needed the most? And what kind of collective future(s) can we now envision, together?
As the Greens, we believe that we need a recovery through an ambitious Green Deal, quality green jobs, and investments with green conditionalities. We are working to ensure that the recovery package and its national plans will act as a driving force towards a real transition to a more resilient and sustainable economic model; ensuring that we transition to renewable energies, phase out of coal by 2030, and achieve climate-neutrality as early as 2040.
Film: Youth Unstoppable: The Rise of the Global Youth Climate Movement
15 December at 00:00 CET – 16 December at 23:59 CET
At age 15, filmmaker Slater Jewell-Kemker began attending environmental summits, camera in hand, wide-eyed and ready to make a difference. What began as a single journey evolved into an intimate and challenging documentary shot behind the front lines of the largely unseen and misunderstood Global Youth Climate Movement. Seen through the lens of Slater’s camera, Youth Unstoppable documents the struggles, events, and first-hand effects on the youth fighting to be heard at home and within the frustrating and complex process of UN Climate Change negotiations. From flood ravaged villages in Nepal to luxury hotels in Cancun, from the tailings ponds of the Alberta Tar Sands to the riots of Copenhagen, culminating with the intense and defining events at the 21st UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, Youth Unstoppable shows us a powerful vision for the future of our planet and the young people who will lead us there.
Director: Slater Jewell-Kemker
Country: Canada
Duration: 89 minutes
Subtitles: English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.
Access: due to distribution rights, this screening is only accessible in Europe.
Debate: Together for Climate Action!
16 December at 19:30 CET
There is an urgency to act on climate, and we know we need to do more. Following the screening of the documentary film ‘Youth Unstoppable’, we are hosting a debate on Thursday 16 December at 19:30 CET. This month, we will reflect on how the global youth climate movement has been instrumental in bringing the climate fight to the forefront of public attention and politics. Thanks to the struggle of several generations of climate activists, those fighting for action on climate are no longer sidelined and have prominent voices in public debate. Where is the climate movement now, and how have the movement’s demands and tactics changed over time? And how will it continue to push for international solidarity and cooperation for climate action?
Artistic spot
The organisation ‘Act for Action’ painted the largest mural in the world that purifies the air in Constanta (Romania). The 2,000 square metre painting will neutralize about 140 kilograms of carbon dioxide.
About the Green Screen
Through a series of online film screenings, the Green Screen project invites you to engage with contemporary debates on the future of Europe, post-COVID recovery and making our societies more resilient and sustainable. Created by the European Greens, it will explore topics such as the climate crisis, environmental and social justice, and democracy.
Each month, the Green Screen is dedicated to a key theme to build a better future for Europe. On the third week of each month, a film screening will be made available for free on our platform for 48 hours, on Wednesday and Thursday. Then, you can follow a live debate on an issue inspired by the film, which will take place on Thursdays at 19:00 CEST.
👀 Learn more about our Coronavirus Recovery: Let’s build a better tomorrow! – Adopted during the 31st Council June 2020
📨 Sign up for email updates on the website of the Green Screen
Past events
The 34th European Green Party (EGP) Council will be on 3-5 December 2021.
