What is the European Climate Pact:

The European Climate Pact aims to engage citizens and communities in action for our climate and environment.

The transition to a climate-neutral society is both a challenging task and an opportunity to build a better future for all. It is about people and their daily lives: how we produce, consume, move, heat or cool our houses, work and live together.

Alongside government policies and regulation, citizens, communities and organizations in all sectors of our society and economy have their part to play.

To this end, as part of the European Green Deal, the Commission will launch a European Climate Pact to give everyone a voice and space to design new climate actions, share information, launch grassroots activities and showcase solutions that others can follow.

 

The European Climate Pact aims to inform, inspire and foster cooperation between people and organizations ranging from national, regional and local authorities to businesses, unions, civil society organizations, educational institutions, research and innovation organizations, consumer groups and individuals.

We are not starting from scratch. The European Climate Pact will build on and amplify existing activities, trigger and embrace new ones, offering opportunities for learning, exchange, co-creation and collaboration.

 

Activities

The European Climate Pact will encourage broad societal engagement on climate and environment through a range of activities.

  • Talking about climate change

Through communication activities and events, and by using multiple channels and tools, the Pact will raise awareness and build understanding of climate change based on reliable scientific evidence, inspire people and organizations to become involved and encourage sustainable behaviors.

  • Triggering action

The Pact will encourage people and organisations to commit to concrete actions, designed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and/or adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change.

The Commission will promote pledges (public commitments) and support relevant initiatives with knowledge/capacity-building, to boost their impact and inspire further action across Europe and globally.

In selected areas, the Commission could provide targeted support. At the start, these areas could cover:

buildings, by stimulating advisory services, facilitating smart financing and assisting local authorities for energy efficient housing;

mobility, by supporting cities and towns with knowledge, raising awareness, and possibly targeted financial support for sustainable urban mobility plans; and

tree-planting, nature regeneration and greening of urban areas.

  • Working together

 

The Pact will provide opportunities for communication, learning and networking, online and offline. It will help to bring together people and organizations to share ideas and experience, and to work together.

Direct citizen consultations could be organized using formats such as citizen dialogues, citizen assemblies, and more. As appropriate, these platforms will link to existing initiatives, such as the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy or CITIZENV dialogues with young people across Europe.

 

Registration for the European Climate Pact Webinar for organizations

 

Open public consultation

The Commission wants to hear your ideas for action under the European Climate Pact and your views on how to make the Pact as effective, inclusive and ambitious as possible.

All submissions to the consultation will be used to shape the final design of the Pact.

The online public consultation is open until 17 June 2020.

 

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