Time travel : Our letter to incoming EU Commission President

September in Brussels is known as the
‘Rentrée’ when the crowds of lobbyists, commission employees, MEPs and so on
make their way back to Brussels after the August holidays. The streets of
Brussels suddenly hum with life just as the corridors of the Berlaymont and
Parliament are thronged between meetings discussing committees and political
manifestos.

This frantic activity applies to almost
everyone in Brussels – especially European Commission President Elect Ursula
von der Leyen who is in the process of selecting the next commission and her
priorities.

With so much to do, and so much at stake, Prof. Dr. Eckart Würzner, President of Energy Cities
and Mayor of Heidelberg, recently sent her a letter setting out our priorities
for ensuring a shared energy transition in Europe. Fortunately, this is an
issue with which the President-Elect is already familiar.

“I
welcome your commitment to climate
neutrality in 2050. I would like to share with you our
proposals for a transition towards climate neutrality that leaves no one
behind…. The only path to
reach the 2050 targets means revising the 2030 target and, crucially, aligning
all policies with climate neutrality.”

Scientists have been
clear that we need drastic emissions by 2030 if we are to avoid locking in
catastrophic climate change. But to make such substantial progress requires a
different way of operating.

“It is impossible to
stay on a Paris-compatible reduction pathway if we do not involve all sectors,
all policies and all departments…(and) we must mainstream climate into our
budgets to achieve a transition aligned with the Paris Agreement.”

By mobilising the
entirety of the EU’s capabilities and incorporating detailed carbon budgeting
to ensure that, on an annual basis, we are making the necessary emissions cuts,
Europe can lead the rest of the world and show the way.

And of course, it’s
not just for the EU to act. The responsibility is shared amongst us all which
was the theme on which Prof. Dr. Eckart Würzner closed the letter.

“I am struck by the
determination of local leaders to act and to embrace their responsibilities
towards future generations. They also see how the transition is an opportunity
to build stronger, more prosperous and inclusive communities. For me, this
should be the only objective of the Just Transition Fund which you have
proposed and which is very much needed: to support communities in designing
their future; in negotiating at local level, with all relevant stakeholders
their transition pathway and to fairly share the benefits and burden of the
transition.”

Energy Cities will
continue to be in touch with the incoming president of the European Commission
to ensure that the point of view of cities is recognised and they have the
resources they need to achieve a shared energy transition in Europe.

The post Time travel : Our letter to incoming EU Commission President appeared first on Energy Cities.

Fuente: ENERGY CITIES
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