The EU must commit to bold climate action to ensure that the European Green Deal works for people and the planet

We welcome this announcement but the EU must commit to bolder climate actions to deliver on the ambitious plans of the European Deal and ensure that it serves to protect people and the planet.

Rachel Owens, Head of Global Witness’ EU office in Brussels said:

‘We welcome this announcement but the EU must commit to stronger climate policies to deliver on the ambitious plans of the European Deal and ensure that it serves to protect people and the planet, and not allow business as usual to continue. We particularly welcome the announcement that the Commission will take regulatory action to ensure EU imports do not contribute to deforestation. It’s disappointing that the Commission has fallen short of committing to revise the EU’s outdated energy infrastructure rules, that continue to prioritise and support climate-wrecking fossil gas pipelines and terminals. Nor has it committed to binding measures to address the role of corporate and finance in the destruction of the planet.’

‘The EU should commit to adopting binding measures to hold corporates and finance accountable for environmental, human rights and corruption harms, so that EU business and finance work for EU and global citizens. It should also once and for all end all support to fossil fuels, particularly gas. And it should ensure that regulatory measures to tackle deforestation associated with the EU’s imports include binding due diligence to require companies to identify, mitigate and prevent risks of environmental harm and deforestation associated with EU’s imports and investments.’