Brussels – Greenpeace activists today installed a nine-metre-tall installation of a tree of life outside the European Parliament in Brussels, urging European politicians to act decisively to halt the destruction of nature that is threatening livelihoods in Europe and globally. In the coming weeks, Members of the European Parliament will be grilling the nominees for the roles of European Commissions in charge of different EU policies for the next five years.
The tree lit up the square outside the European Parliament with coloured lights, flames and smoke, and carried messages from thousands of people across Europe to the politicians representing them in Brussels, urging them to protect nature.
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Greenpeace EU director Jorgo Riss said: “People in Europe want the EU to stop nature destruction and save lives. Floods, droughts and new illnesses are direct consequences of the war on nature that threatens security and prosperity. Millions of wild animals are dying, forests are going up in flames, threatening the very foundations of life. The European Parliament must grill the European Commissioner candidates to make sure they understand the connection between nature, the economy and security, and have the skills and political will to put nature protection at the heart of Europe. We need to restore nature in Europe to have clean air, clean water and healthy soils for sustainable farming, and we need to end nature destruction beyond Europe’s borders to tackle species extinction and the climate crisis. Those taking power in the EU must understand that there is no growth and no competitiveness on a dead planet.”
Next steps
The candidates nominated as European Commissioner by their national governments, and proposed for different portfolios by Commission President von der Leyen, must gain the approval of the European Parliament before they can take office later this year.
Representing the EU at the UN summits on biodiversity in October and on climate in November will be some of the last tasks of the current European Commissioners, before the new team takes the reins in December. The nominees facing hearings in the European Parliament, if approved, would then represent the EU at these UN summits for the next five years, right up to the crucial deadline of 2030 by when the EU has agreed to protect 30% of its land and sea areas and restore 30% of protected but degraded ecosystems, and to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 55%.
Contact:
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Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. We do not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties. Greenpeace has over three million supporters, and 26 independent national and regional organisations with offices in more than 55 countries.
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