European voters reshuffled the political cards in Brussels. But while the new Parliament’s composition reflects Europeans' real concerns and frustrations, it also emphasises the need for EU leaders and newly elected MEPs to address the urgent threats of climate change and biodiversity loss. Ignoring these issues will worsen the challenges Europeans face, including droughts, food insecurity, and high energy prices.

European communities have been hit hard by the consequences of extreme weather, like wildfires, droughts and floods. In addition to the climate crisis, various environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss and pollution are negatively impacting our everyday lives.
 

The latest Eurobarometer shows that 78% of Europeans feel that environmental issues directly affect them while 84% believe EU legislation is necessary to protect the environment. Not only is the green transition wanted, it is also needed. It enhances the economy, creating over 5.1 million green jobs and significantly contributing to the EU’s GDP growth.

With the elections campaign behind us, political leaders must now work together and heed the scientific consensus on climate and nature - it is the only way to secure Europe’s safety and competitive sustainability.

Political leaders must prioritise three key actions to put people and nature at the heart of our politics:

• End our fossil fuel dependence;
• Prioritise nature for safety and resilience, including by fixing our broken food system
• Leave no-one behind, including by repurposing subsidies that harm nature towards the green transition.

Learn more about the solutions the EU can implement and what EU political parties have promised to do in the next 5 years.