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European astronauts and young people launch a citizen-led appeal for an ecological Europe

Date

13 May 2019

Sections

Climate & Environment
With the European elections just a few weeks away, a citizen-led appeal – Objective Earth – has been launched by, amongst others, Gérard Feldzer, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Bertrand Piccard and Jean-Francois Rial. 
 
This Appeal, which seeks to obtain as many signatures as possible, is neither a movement nor a party. It has been launched by young people and European astronauts, who are requesting candidates commit to 12 EU-wide measures addressing ecological and climate challenges.  
 
We're racing along at 108,000 km/hr, aboard a spaceship called Earth. We are the crew members, responsible for its future. We must protect it because we don’t have a rescue planet.
 
We, European astronauts, who are supporting this appeal, bear witness that, seen from space, our planet is a finite, unique and isolated oasis of fragile life.
 
We, young European citizens, are already mobilised for 8 months to preserve nature and save our future.
 
We, astronauts, young citizens and personalities, support this Appeal by calling all the candidates standing for European election in May 2019. 
 
Convinced that through a united European Union, rich in free movement, humanistic, welcoming and supportive, these measures will honor the Paris Agreement (COP 21) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
 
Thus, together, we will achieve an ecologically responsible and socially equitable transition on a European scale.
 
A citizen-led appeal for an ecological Europe - 12 measures
Energy for hope 
Stop subsidising and financing fossil fuels
Accelerate the transition to clean, neutral energy
 
Sustainable production
Tackle waste by rethinking the entire life cycle of consumables and products from ‘disposable’ to ‘sustainable’
Align household and industrial waste management at European level   
 
Let the living breathe  
Put a stop to the development of artificial lands, deforestation, and ‘looting’ of our oceans
Develop ambitious and appropriate legislation for animal welfare 
 
Produce organic, eat healthy 
Accelerate the exit plan for the use of ecocide products like glyphosate
Strongly support the ‘organic’ sector and make it more accessible; impose certified traceability for organic foods produced outside Europe
 
Move without polluting
Tax fuels for intra-European air, maritime, and river transport
Accelerate funding and development of sustainable transport modes
 
Share/prepare the future   
Set up an exchange programme involving schools, universities, and professionals in the field of sustainable development. 
Prioritise European research and development on sustainable development. 
All these measures are financially viable and should be funded by tools created or to be developed by EU (e.g. tax on financial transactions, carbon pricing…). 
 
Next event: Special concert for the Climate – Eglise de la Madeleine, Paris, 15 May 2019 at 7.30pm – by Les Petites Mains Symphoniques Orchestra and 150 young musicians from South America, conducted by Eric du Faÿ. 
 
We thank the Qwant company which has designed and developed the website, bringing Objectif Terre alive:  www.objectiveearth.org ; www.objectifterre.eu ; www.objectiveearth.eu
Contact Objective Earth: presse@objectiveearth.org ; +33 645439331 ; +33 686491581
Contact press Foundation GoodPlanet: jonathan@goodplanet.org ;  +33 667118217 
#Vote4Climate #ObjectiveEarth #GoodPlanet #Onestpret #Youth4Climate #Fridays4Future #YouthAction #Europe #Climate #EU #ClimateAction