AGORA on Climate Change

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Published Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 23:23
by Editor (1088 views and 3 comments)

On 12 and 13 of June, the European Parliament invited the European civil society to the 2008 AGORA to express freely its views on the crucial matter of climate change. At the plenary session, all the major representatives of the European Institutions stressed the fact that tackling properly climate change will be possible only with the support and contribution of civil society.

The issues raised by the speakers fuelled a very lively debate. Jeremy Rifkin, president of the Foundation on Economics trends and advisor of different European governments on environmental and economic issues, said that “we have to leave aside a burden sharing and benchmarks approaches and start to talk about commercial opportunities, otherwise in Copenhagen in 2009 we will fail”.

EU has the potential to lead the world into the transition to a third industrial revolution. The introduction of renewables, the functioning of buildings as power plants and the setting up of a smart transmission grid which will take up the internet technology, are the main pillars of the “third industrial revolution” strategy. There was consensus among the public on the importance of decentralising energy policies, creating the opportunity to collect and generate energy locally. In this respect, the building sector could play a major role. To put into place this radical change, participants proposed to create a set of right incentives like green mortgages for “energy positive buildings”.

During the debate, structured in different five workshops, other proposals came out concerning the need to redesign our production and consumption patterns, to achieve a sustainable development taking into account social justice and distributional issues and to properly inform and educate people. Let’s remember: “Climate change is at our doors, so we need to act all together without delay!”

For more information: www.europarl.europa.eu/agora

Tags: climate change, environment, renewable energy

Comments

1. What about you? by lazett on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 23:27

I do agree but I also defend that the first step should be taken by citizens in their daily acivities: use the bike or the bus instead of cars, don't leave the tv on stand-by. By the way, wich measures do you put into practice to help prevent climate change...?

2. citizens should also be given the right incentives by valentina abita Join PES activists on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 10:31

I agree with you. The first step has to be taken by every citizen in his daily life. Lowering consumption and increasing energy efficiency comes first. Therefore, we have to change  our habits because they could make an important contribution. Concerning what I usually do to help prevent climate change, I switch off the light every time I leave a room, I  unplugg electric appliances when they are not in use, I to try to not waste water, to buy organic products and to take the bus instead of the car. However, in my opinion, citizens should also be given the rights incentives and information in order to find easier to make these kind of choices such as a good public transport system, congestion or pollution taxes, better information on the products produced in a sustainable way... and so on.  So, sustainable citizens` habits and the right public incentives must go hand in hand.

3. Small things in the daily life can help by Ceciliag Join PES activists on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 12:26

I fully agree with you two. I personnally get my organic vegetables from a local cooperative of farmers, so that they are not imported by plane or truck from far away, and it helps local production. Taking the bus, using a bike... is less expensive and more environment-friendly!

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