Europe Greens Fight to Save the Climate Plan They Helped Launch
Bas Eickhout, Dutch member of the European parliament and the party’s lead candidate in upcoming elections, says the challenge is reconnecting with people who feel left behind by economic forces beyond their control.
Bas Eickhout.
Photographer: Geert Vanden Wijngaert/BloombergBarely two years ago the European Greens were riding high, negotiating a policy package to create the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 after their strongest-ever electoral performance. Then Russia invaded Ukraine.
The ensuing energy crisis exacerbated a cost-of-living crunch for Europe’s citizens who had barely recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic. The fallout has put the Greens on course to lose a third of their seats at next month’s European parliamentary elections. Surging support for climate skeptical right-wing political groups leaves the future of the landmark Green Deal uncertain, even though over 50 laws have been passed over the last three years.