Youth for Climate finds Belgian election results “disappointing”
Youth for Climate’s message has been heard unevenly across the country, which is not only a “disappointment”, but also “a source of concern as we have little time left to start the necessary transition to a carbon-free society,” the activist movement said on Monday evening in a press release.
“Our message – which is to put the climate crisis back at the centre of the political debate – has been heard unevenly. The results of the elections in Wallonia and Brussels suggest the possibility of setting up a coalition government sensitive to climate issues. This is not the case in Flanders, however, where the parties that won the elections do not regard climate change as a serious issue,” says Youth for Climate.
Nevertheless, the movement sees hope at the European level: “Our message seems to have been heard and is reflected in the European Parliament election results. This is all the more important as the European authorities remain a crucial level of power to guide and stimulate the transition to a green economy and to set more ambitious climate objectives.”
After a brief review period, Youth for Climate intends to continue its struggle to place climate change at the heart of the negotiations for the formation of the next federal Belgian government. The recommendations of an expert climate panel, as well as Youth for Climate’s own report, have already been provided to each major party president.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the United Nations, less than 12 years remain to avoid irreversible climate disruptions and to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
