EU: Stop turning your back on the climate!

Why is this important?

Europe is on fire — again.

Heatwaves in Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, Greece and beyond are claiming lives and livelihoods. Droughts are killing crops. Floods are displacing families. [1] And still, the EU is planning to spend the next decade as if none of this is happening.

The EU just proposed its new long-term budget — a once-in-a-decade decision that will shape how trillions of euros are spent until 2034. [2] But right now, that proposal cuts back dedicated climate and nature funding. [3]

If the budget goes through unchanged, it will lock Europe into 10 more years of climate inaction. Wildfires, floods and food shortages will intensify. The EU’s own goals — and our future — will be out of reach. Even the International Court of Justice now says countries have a legal duty to act for the climate, or they may be responsible for human rights violations. [4]

There’s still time to change course. Right now, the Commission can revise the budget. And both the European Parliament and national governments in the Council can reject it unless it puts people and the planet first.

Let’s make sure EU leaders get a message from thousands of Europeans: fix the EU budget, NOW.

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