Day of Action - Q&A Responses - European Climate Pact

How can EU Climate Pact Ambassadors take part in COP26? Will the Commission or the EEAS involve them in preparations or during the event?

Some targeted materials could help the Ambassadors to be more effective (T-shirts, a dedicated logo etc.), especially towards students. Is this possible in a short space of time? Can you plan a budget for the Ambassadors' actions?

How can you become an Ambassador and defend the Climate Pact within a community and/or professional environment?

We are in the National Schools Network. Can we partner with Ambassadors, and if so, how?

How can we help to convince more and more people to join the Ambassadors movement?

Are there already any social partners (Trade Unions and business) among the Climate Pact Ambassadors?

The EU should find a way to involve and strongly encourage Climate Ambassadors and activists from neighbouring countries and even from other continents. Climate issues should be tackled via global actions and commitments.

What happens next for the Ambassadors? How do we stay in touch? How do we reach regional representatives? How do we reach the Climate Pact team to collaborate?

When will the EU unlock a communication platform for Ambassadors? We work on Slack so far, but unfortunately not all of us are connected yet.

It would be good if we could have a common repository where Ambassadors can share our materials, such as presentations and videos, so that we can share ideas as a benchmark for us to improve. Would something like this be considered?

I submitted my application to become an Ambassador on the 1st of May. However I have not got any information back yet.

Don't climate change actions hinder the development efforts of developing countries?

We risk trivialising the challenge of reaching beyond the small group of the 'already convinced' in the climate movement. How will the Pact build communities that take actions that are not difficult but where the aggregate matters?

Achieving SDGs is so much more important now that COVID-19 has reversed global progress. How can the Climate Pact focus more on this?

I would like to get in touch with my government about climate change, especially about the mucilage that has covered the whole Marmara Sea. Could I work with the Pact in order to do so?

How are you engaging businesses practically to be part of this change? Is the European Commission supporting businesses in the first place? If so, through which kind of practical measures?

What are the pledges for a liveable and sustainable world from the politicians and deciders at the EU-level and the different national levels - and where we could find them?

After the signed Declaration of Honour, what is the next step to pledge as an organisation?

Where I could find information on which pledges have the most of impact - for example: no meat, no/less flying.

A coordinated, common action towards schools should be carried out by the Commission, using Ambassadors as main actors. Is the Commission planning such an initiative?

"Food waste", "too much protein": the true problem about our diet is too much meat. What are the EU's plans to transform our agricultural sector? Will meat subsidies gradually disappear in order to put that money to better use?

What is the Commission's plan on promoting sustainable development in developing countries?

Could the EU ensure that the prices of products and services start to include hidden costs, i.e. the environmental and social effects of their production, sales, use and final disposal?

The regulatory process - at European and national level - is too slow compared to the urgency of climate change. How can this be changed?

Will the EU guarantee that low waste or no waste products are fully available everywhere in Europe at affordable prices? I believe that consumers will not choose more sustainable products if prices are so high

I would like to know if there is a programme of reducing the transport of goods, and promoting local production for food and industrial goods. Maybe a carbon tax? This could promote local economies against globalisation

You are talking a lot about reducing emissions, zero waste solutions, eco-food, eco-traveling but what about hard solutions for urban heat islands, green infrastructure based on nature, and biodiversity? We face big problems in these sectors every day

When will our municipalities receive dedicated funding amounting to 25% of the municipal budget for the next 15 years to begin the transformation? This ambitious EU target is not feasible from today's municipal budgets.

In my country (Turkey) we cannot act collaboratively or make policies, and we are one of the top carbon emission producing countries. Do you have any plans to reach countries that are not willing to take action?

Procurement functions in companies are in a prime spot to drive changes and buy green. How can the Commission reach out to them? There are non-profits involved in this, so reach out to them! For instance SPP.Earth etc.

EVP Timmermans, you say that students and the youth have educated their parents and created the movement. But the fight against Climate change and for ecology is still very elitist. How do you intend to change that and raise awareness among all population

Where can we get official and updated data on climate-related matters, in order to teach correctly? For instance, where can I get a reliable source of data demonstrating how much food we all waste everyday?

Is it possible to commit to net zero emissions by 2050 in our world?

Do you know "the Climate Collage" (la Fresque du Climat)? It is a collaborative game that has managed to disseminate IPCC reports to over 100 000 people (including policy makers). Would it be possible to develop a partnership with this NGO?

Besides behavioural change in our consumption, what - in your opinion - can be done about the unequal distribution of food while maintaining climate ambitions?

As Mr. Timmermans was saying about collecting seedlings in your own area, would it be an idea to try to plant these seedlings next Spring, and connect these green spots across Europe? #EUClimate PACT trees corridor.

Could all European Union states invest in a planting tree plan all together?

Lots of suggested tactics for reducing carbon footprint. However, we really need to help citizens with quantification, so they can prioritise, instead of getting overwhelmed. Any plans for providing more quantifications to help users?

Can and should emerging and underdeveloped countries, where economic and political problems are at the forefront, devote themselves to dealing with climate change?

How can I understand if a climate action is not - with a deeper view - a greenwashing case?

How can we establish platforms in neighbouring countries with relevant NGOs? Prepare projects to train individuals, starting from kindergarden.

The platform is great, thanks! How can engineers and artists meet and collaborate? In order to link figures and facts with feelings? Are there some other financial support instruments besides COST and Erasmus actions?

I hear speakers talk about engaging businesses. In Europe these are largely micro, and so almost in themselves small groups of people. Do we need to work on common people's education more than anything, and create a shift in demand more?

We are working hard to reduce carbon footprints in Nigeria through advocating shared mobility and a resurgence of bicycle transport culture. Any advice or support would go a long way.

How can we assure the participation of MNCs or industrialists in sustainable development?

Se podría adquirir en los próximos tiempos un compromiso firme de cara a 0 emisiones netas en 2050?.sabemos que es muy complicado,

How can we convince adults and kids that 2050 is not too late?

How will the EU Climate Pledge actions connect with the Food System Summit and the actions that come out of this?

The question is how to raise awareness among our parents' generation. How can we teach them to sort waste systematically, push them to take public transport more often, or change the bad habit of putting meat in all meals?

Businesses need to put the circular and sustainable economy at the heart of their business model. A label should be set up to certify that a company is sustainable, and making efforts to include the circular economy.

Is there a programme planned for schools related to climate education?

There are people between the ages of 18-30 that don't think that climate change is a big problem. What can we do to actually convince them?