Tackling Crisis: EU Overshoot Day Alert

As Culture Action Europe, we are part of a coalition of 317 organisations advocating for a robust green agenda in the next legislative period. A just and inclusive green transition over the next five years depends on harnessing the potential of culture for sustainable development and social justice.

The EU’s overshoot day serves as a stark reminder: if the global population emulated the consumption patterns of the EU, humanity would deplete the planet’s natural resources available for the year by May 3rd.

This is why we have chosen to sign and endorse an open letter urging heads of states and governments, the Presidents of the EU Commission, Council and Parliament, as well as Members of the EU Parliament, to make a political commitment to strive towards a climate-neutral, zero-pollution, and nature-positive economy. This comes in response to the concerning amount of backtracking from politicians in recent months, as green policies are being exploited for short-term electoral gains and populism.

In this letter, we advocate for:

• Deepening and accelerating the Green Deal, by fully implementing recently agreed goals and addressing ambition gaps on nature, climate, and pollution.
• Significantly increasing public investments in climate, environment, and social sectors.
• Enhancing EU governance, democracy, and the effective participation of civil society.

With the upcoming EU elections, decision-makers have a crucial opportunity and responsibility to change course. Only by prioritising the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution can the EU effectively contribute to the preservation of our planet.