Climate change & environment
Strengthening sustainable European industries and recycling
Proposals by young citizens
Find a selection of the proposals made by young Europeans
AriIt is necessary to penalize those companies with a high level of pollution or waste production
74% approval- Rita, 22
It is necessary for companies to be taxed in proportion to the environmental damage producted by allocation the money obtained to clean up damage
73% approval - Jaktub
A system of returnable bottles and cans should be introduced.
80% approval - Laura, 21
Waste sorting rules need to be standardized across Europe to simplify recycling.
80% approval - Rita, 22
It is necessary to tax companies in propostion to the ecological and environmental damage that may have been produced
75% approval - Sascha, 32
We should create larger fines for businesses that pollute and destroy the environment across all countries.
76% approval - Jo
There should be stricter policies against waste disposal at companies, including those that process their waste outside the EU
76% approval - Jonas, 29
We should have a unified system for every packaging in Europe, so that everything could be recyclable.
82% approval
Sustainability is a massive challenge and requires systemic action, particularly from the administration and private sector.
Measures such as a tax reform to penalise polluting activities and finance a fair green transition, curbing waste generation under a circular economic model that includes innovative practices in productive sectors and the right to repair, or an EU-wide system for waste collection and sorting are deemed as essential to this end.
Find the extended version here.
Responsesby European political parties
All European political parties that are represented with ten or more members in the European Parliament (in February 2024) were invited to provide their responses.
EFA believes that the greatest burden for the green transition should be borne not by regular citizens or small-scale farmers, but by the biggest corporations and industries that are responsible for the largest degree of emissions and pollutions. These companies can fund the needs of transition through emissions taxes. Recycling practices can be streamlined and improved: European-level systems can help here, but must take into account the different needs of different regions. More about this party, their programme & national members
Our tax proposals will reduce the burden on workers, increasing taxes for polluters and the ultra-rich. The EU requires greater budgetary resources to face our common challenges: We must extend the carbon border tax to new polluting sectors, apply the polluter pays principle across all sectors, and abolish free quotas earlier than 2034. We will increase existing taxes on plastics. We will fight to revise the Green Taxonomy to make sure that gas and nuclear are not greenwashed as “sustainable”. More about this party, their programme & national members
We want to provide businesses with incentives to invest in sustainable production to decouple economic growth from use of primary resources, via diversification, reuse, and repair. We oppose premature obsolescence and want to empower consumers with better labels, including carbon footprint transparency and new date marking rules for food. Tackle waste efficiently through innovative product design and packaging and an EU-wide deposit return scheme for packaging. More about this party, their programme & national members
The strengthening of sustainable and recycling industries must be linked to green transition plans at all levels. The local economy, waste treatment; environmental protection and the defence of existing bio-diversity are priorities for us. Public planning is needed to provide resources for ecological transition plans based on the specificities of each region.
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We pledge to spearhead the shift to a green, circular economy. Europe must lead in combating climate change through investment in renewables, sustainable mobility, and environmental research. At EU level, all packaging must be recyclable, plastic waste drastically reduced, and the use of harmful pollutants like PFAS and BPA in food-contact packaging banned.
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The changes ahead of us require large-scale public and private investment in sustainable energy alternatives and the promotion of the Green Deal and a circular economy, notably for critical raw materials. The way forward is to make responsible use of our resources and materials by introducing ambitious reuse and recycling targets, especially for critical raw materials. We will put forward an Investment Plan for the Green and Digital Transitions. More about this party, their programme & national members
This European political party did not provide a response. More about this party, their programme & national members
This European political party did not provide a response. More about this party, their programme & national members
This European political party did not provide a response. More about this party, their programme & national members
The answers by political actors are automatically translated and may contain mistakes.You can find the original, English version here.
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About EurHope
EurHope has the goal to activate young Europeans ahead of the European elections. At the core stands the Agenda of Hope, which was established on the basis of a participatory engagement campaign in 2023.
EurHope is co-lead by JEF Europe & Make.org and supported by more than 50 organisations from all over Europe (including European institutions).
