As the largest coalition of youth-led organizations at the European level, Generation Climate Europe, along with more than 10 other youth-led organizations, of which represent more than 30 million Young Europeans, we are asking you to take action. More specifically, we are asking you to ensure that the EU will preserve both our and our families’ future – which is also your future. Climate Change can no longer be ignored in political decisions, as it is accelerating and becoming more serious than anticipated by IPCC experts. In 2020, the permafrost in Canada’s Arctic Islands drastically defrosted to levels that climate models were only predicting to happen in 2090. Experts say a +6°C trajectory is now probable.
Today, we have two important requests in this regard, and your political leadership is and will be crucial in their achievement.
Firstly, we ask you to support the European Parliament’s Climate Law’s historical amendment to “end protection of investments in fossil fuels in the context of the modernization of the Energy Charter Treaty” (Amendment 143 / Article 8 a). Investments made today will shape the world of tomorrow for generations to come. The action you will take to address our requests will provide evidence about the importance you give to securing a bright future for all. On the 10th of December, the Council will vote on the Climate Law and we are firm in our belief that this amendment should be approved, along with a review of what is defined as “economic activity”.
Secondly, we ask that you withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty ‘ECT’ if it is not aligned with climate neutrality – and to put an end date for the negotiations on the “modernisation’’ of the Treaty, which should be no later than mid-2021. It is important to note that this Treaty has many points that are in direct conflict with sustainable development and climate proof policies. The ECT is a powerful tool used by oil, gas and coal companies to discourage governments in the transition from fossil-based economies to fossil free economies, as 70% of all ECT cases pertain to those companies. The ECT favors and promotes new fossil fuel projects of which was illustrated by Rockhopper’s ECT challenge to Italy’s ban on new off-shore oil drilling projects.
Please give us further reasons to believe in your governance and in the European Union itself, and to support you.
We, the European Youth, do not want our taxes to contribute to a system we consider in complete contradiction with our values. As Young Europeans, we are promised a greener future but we are aware that the ECT prevents environmental policies from applying. We know that the use of fossil fuels is diminishing but this in itself is not sufficient to reach the aims set out above, especially if investors could continue to sue Member States in the name of the ECT. Thus, we are asking you to withdraw from this outdated Treaty.
We hope that you have heard our requests – both for the Climate Law and the Energy Charter Treaty. To this regard, we ask you for a public answer to this letter no later than on 16th of December, during the annual Energy Charter Treaty Conference. We like to believe you will be consistent with your own values and act in order to preserve our common future.
Signatories:
Generation Climate Europe, AEGEE, CliMates, Youth and Environment Europe, OBESSU, International Young Naturefriends, Fimcap, Syndicat European Trade Union Youth, European Students’ Union, Erasmus Student Network, Young Friends of the Earth Europe, REFEDD, Pour un Réveil Ecologique, YMCA Sweden, Youth for Climate, Federation of Young European Greens, Action Climatique, Jeunes Ambassadeurs pour le Climat, Global Youth Biodiversity Network Europe, Generation Earth, Fridays For Future Germany.
