By Nick Hamer 11 December 2023
In 2023 EMG participated in a process with other Southern Hemisphere civil society organisations to advocate for developing world concerns being centered in Just Transition implementation.
The process was facilited by Solidar, with the support of the Olof Palme Centre and IFWEA.
The process noted numerous issues that need to be addressed within the European Green Deal (EGD) initiated by the EU.
The main weaknesses of the EGD were identified as:
Lack of targeted finance to the stakeholders in a weaker position
Lack of teeth for implementing a truly just transition
Lack of integration between internal and external policies, especially trade, leading to excessive spillover effects
Lack of consideration for the concept and principles of Fair Trade, as a driver of sustainable development changes
Lack of underlying transformation of the current economic model and of the drivers of overconsumption
The demands for change centred on the following:
1. Reforming the Global Financial Architecture
Access to high-quality, affordable, and long-term financing from both official and private sources is critical for giving partner countries the chance to implement climate mitigation and adaptation, boost their efforts to reverse biodiversity loss and increase progress in social outcomes.
2. A concrete strategy and binding work plan to achieve a Just Transition
The current Just Transition measures applied in the EGD (mostly of a financial nature) need to be complemented with new measures such as transforming the economy in a fair and inclusive manner to ensure the maintenance and creation of good quality jobs and the safeguarding of universal social protection systems. - .
3. A policy coherence for sustainable development with a deep reform of the EU Trade policy and a major political focus on reducing the spillover effects
The EGD does not contribute to Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD) as the impact of the European green transition on partner countries is only partly addressed and the EU trade policy has been left unreformed after the advent of the EGD. Like other wealthy countries and regions, the EU generates large externalities (or spillover effects) due notably to unsustainable consumption and supply chains.
4. Mainstreaming Fair Trade practices to advance sustainable production, consumption and business governance
The Commission must adopt a new Communication on Fair Trade to show the growing relevance of FT in terms of EU public policies and to further expand it through binding legislative measures:
5. Turning the Green Deal into a driver of change of the EU economic model
Economic growth is at the core of the EGD, with the EU going as far as presenting it as “a new growth strategy”. This comes despite the mounting evidence showing that it is not economic growth per se that creates jobs, ensures wellbeing, or reduces poverty but rather the overall mix of government policies which together determine whether the economy supports progress for all people while preserving the environment and addressing climate change.
