EU Citizens' Panel recommends climate action

As part of the Conference on the Future of Europe, the randomly selected Citizens' Panel on Climate Change, Environment and Health met for the third and final time in Warsaw from 7 to 9 January 2022. Around 200 European citizens of different ages and backgrounds from all Member States adopted their 51 recommendations on the climate, environment and health challenges facing Europe. The proposals revolve around better lifestyles, protecting the environment and health, reorienting the economy and consumption towards a sustainable society and care for all.

Forum participants recommend, for example, EU subsidies for organic farming and the promotion of vertical farming, where crops are grown in layers one above the other. Another suggestion is minimum standards for food quality in school canteens, and food production should become part of public education.

Urban development and cycling

Furthermore, an EU directive on urban development was recommended to make cities greener. Forum participants also wanted more support for cyclists and investment in new cycle paths.

With regard to the protection of the environment and health, the Citizens' Panel suggests a uniform labelling system that shows the entire ecological footprint of products purchased in the EU, as well as labelling that indicates the use of hormonal substances in food. Another recommendation for action is higher taxes on unhealthy food and a Europe-wide points system for healthy food.

Biodiversity

In addition, the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers should be drastically reduced. To protect biodiversity, citizens demand the expansion of protected areas as well as rapid and massive reforestation. Intensive livestock farming should be phased out.

The recommendations of the European Citizens' Panel were presented and discussed at the plenary session of the conference, where the final proposals of the conference were further elaborated.

Citizens members of the Conference Plenary

80 citizens (20 from each of the European Citizens' Panels, at least one third of whom are between 16 and 25 years old) were members of the Conference Plenary. There they presented the results of their respective panel discussions and debated with Members of the European Parliament, national government and parliamentary representatives, EU Commissioners and other plenary members from EU institutions, regional and local authorities, social partners and civil society.

The 51 recommendations from the EU Citizens’ Forum on ‘Climate Change, Environment and Health’ were incorporated into the final proposals of the Conference on the Future of Europe and subsequently taken forward by the EU institutions.

Calls taken on board

In particular, calls relating to climate action, renewable energy, energy efficiency, the protection and restoration of nature, more sustainable consumption, health data, the supply of medicines and mental health were taken on board. However, some more specific proposals in the health sector remain unresolved; nor has an extension of the EU’s competences in health policy been realised.

When assessing the situation, it should be borne in mind that numerous relevant EU initiatives had already been launched before the Citizens’ Forum took place. Subsequent policy developments cannot therefore be regarded across the board as a direct consequence of its recommendations.