The curtain is closing on COP27, and with it, our chances to keep 1.5 alive have shrunk to an extremely meagre hope. The Greens will fight with all their energy to revive this hope, fight for European climate leadership and transform this hope into reality.
While citizens in Europe and beyond are battling multiple crises, and while short-term action requires responsible decisions in particular to ensure European citizens can safely traverse a potentially difficult winter, COPs must absolutely remain a place that sets an ambitious long-term compass on international climate action.
What has unfolded in COP27 is exactly the opposite of what the world needs right now.
We do not need a record number of fossil fuel lobbyists to set the agenda and tell governments to delay climate action, nor do we need human rights violations preventing activists to speak their voice. We need governments that empowers and listen to civil society activists and scientists.
We do not need the most polluting countries to tinker with the 1.5-degree target. We need resolute ambition towards keeping this goal alive.
We do not need nationalistic egoism from wealthy countries who contributed the most to climate change and environment destruction. We need an ambitious loss and damage programme that take into account historical responsibilities.
COPs will continue to be staged every year, and we will continue fighting from one COP to the other. We will continue fighting for Europe to be the leader that its citizens and climate deserve!
In 2024, European citizens will decide for a new leadership for Europe. This new leadership must be a resolute and effective climate leadership! The Greens have now demonstrated what this climate leadership means in more and more European countries. Count on us to bring our continent at the helm of the climate fight.
Mélanie Vogel, co-chair of the European Green Party and French Senator
Thomas Waitz, co-chair of the European Green Party and Member of the European Parliament
