Bristol University Press
Nine Save the Climate and Save Europe? It Is Now or Never!
-
Anne Hessel
Abstract
World peace cannot be preserved without creative efforts to match the dangers that threaten it.
Robert Schuman, Declaration of 9 May 1950
While Europe, and the world, seem to be slowly but surely moving towards chaos, we should remember the words of Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950, when he decided with Konrad Adenauer to create the coal–steel union. To make war impossible in Europe, ‘France and Germany offer their neighbours limited but decisive action’, said Schuman modestly; however, the press was not mistaken, announcing the next day ‘A revolutionary initiative.’
Today, what is the ‘limited but decisive action’ that will allow us to break with the stifling processes at work in Europe and all over the planet? What revolutionary decision could put out, in a few months, a major part of the fires that are starting and could allow people to build, in a few years, a better future? The European Climate Pact presented in this book is a potentially powerful lever, capable of resolving many of the crises that are undermining the world today. Who can deny the need to invest heavily to help all European states, and all families, businesses, communities and associations in Europe, to finance their share of the work to achieve ‘zero net emissions’ of greenhouse gases by 2050?
Who can also deny the need for massive aid to the countries of the South? Historically, since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, Europe has been the largest producer of greenhouse gases, but it is still relatively protected from the consequences of climate change, while Southern countries, which are only marginally responsible for the problem, are seriously affected.
Abstract
World peace cannot be preserved without creative efforts to match the dangers that threaten it.
Robert Schuman, Declaration of 9 May 1950
While Europe, and the world, seem to be slowly but surely moving towards chaos, we should remember the words of Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950, when he decided with Konrad Adenauer to create the coal–steel union. To make war impossible in Europe, ‘France and Germany offer their neighbours limited but decisive action’, said Schuman modestly; however, the press was not mistaken, announcing the next day ‘A revolutionary initiative.’
Today, what is the ‘limited but decisive action’ that will allow us to break with the stifling processes at work in Europe and all over the planet? What revolutionary decision could put out, in a few months, a major part of the fires that are starting and could allow people to build, in a few years, a better future? The European Climate Pact presented in this book is a potentially powerful lever, capable of resolving many of the crises that are undermining the world today. Who can deny the need to invest heavily to help all European states, and all families, businesses, communities and associations in Europe, to finance their share of the work to achieve ‘zero net emissions’ of greenhouse gases by 2050?
Who can also deny the need for massive aid to the countries of the South? Historically, since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, Europe has been the largest producer of greenhouse gases, but it is still relatively protected from the consequences of climate change, while Southern countries, which are only marginally responsible for the problem, are seriously affected.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of Tables, Figures and Boxes v
- Acknowledgements: The English Translation viii
- How We Can Win the Battle by Nicolas Hulot ix
- 2020: A Warning Shot by Anne Hessel x
- Foreword xiii
- ‘Our Home Is Burning and We Are Looking Elsewhere’ 1
- Global Warming: The Essential Cause Is Our Greenhouse Gas Emissions 14
- ‘Soon It Will Be Too Late…’, Say 15,000 Scientists 24
- The UN Environment Programme Denounces ‘This Catastrophic Climate Gap’ between the Reductions Needed and the National Pledges 35
- Zero Net Carbon Emissions? Yes, It Is Possible 40
- Can We Make a Colossal Development Programme Work? We Can Do It! 50
- ‘€1,000 Billion for the Climate?’ If It Is Really Needed, Yes, We Can Do It! 56
- Putting Finance Back at the Service of the Common Good: The European Climate Finance Pact 78
- Save the Climate and Save Europe? It Is Now or Never! 97
- Conclusion: Creating a New Development Model 110
- Notes 112
- Index 119
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of Tables, Figures and Boxes v
- Acknowledgements: The English Translation viii
- How We Can Win the Battle by Nicolas Hulot ix
- 2020: A Warning Shot by Anne Hessel x
- Foreword xiii
- ‘Our Home Is Burning and We Are Looking Elsewhere’ 1
- Global Warming: The Essential Cause Is Our Greenhouse Gas Emissions 14
- ‘Soon It Will Be Too Late…’, Say 15,000 Scientists 24
- The UN Environment Programme Denounces ‘This Catastrophic Climate Gap’ between the Reductions Needed and the National Pledges 35
- Zero Net Carbon Emissions? Yes, It Is Possible 40
- Can We Make a Colossal Development Programme Work? We Can Do It! 50
- ‘€1,000 Billion for the Climate?’ If It Is Really Needed, Yes, We Can Do It! 56
- Putting Finance Back at the Service of the Common Good: The European Climate Finance Pact 78
- Save the Climate and Save Europe? It Is Now or Never! 97
- Conclusion: Creating a New Development Model 110
- Notes 112
- Index 119
