Greta Thunberg has criticised the EU’s new climate law, saying it’s surrendering to the crisis.
The teen activist made the comments while speaking at the European Parliament’s environment committee on Wednesday (March 4). If approved, the climate law would force the European Union to become carbon neutral by 2050. Because it doesn’t contain any references to the level of additional greenhouse gas reductions needed by 2030, the bill goes against the Paris agreement – the international deal that committed almost 200 countries to reduce their emissions.
According to the climate activist, the presented measures would give the world “much less than a 50 per cent chance” to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, which was the threshold set by the Paris agreement. Accusing the EU of “pretending” to be a leader on climate change, Thunberg stressed the importance of taking immediate action in regulating the release of carbon dioxide, and claimed that “nature doesn’t bargain” when it comes to global warming.
“Your distant targets will mean nothing if high emissions continue like today, even for just a few more years,” said the activist, “because that will use up our remaining carbon budget before we even have the chance to deliver on your 2030 or 2050 goals.”
She continued: “When your children set off the fire alarm, you went outside, took a look, and smelled the air. You stated that, ‘yes the house is actually burning’. But then you went back inside, finished your dinner, watched your movie, and went to bed, without even calling the fire department. I’m sorry but this makes no sense at all. When your house is on fire, you don’t wait a few more years to start putting it out.”
Watch Thunberg’s full speech below.