EU Industry must play its part in tackling climate change
Press release from EFA MEP Piernicola Pedicini
MEPs have today debated the outcome of the COP26 conference on climate change that took place recently in Glasgow.
EFA MEP Piernicola Pedicini spoke in the debate where European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans was also present.
Pedicini called for the EU to ensure that industry plays its part in reducing emissions and reaching the ambitious goals needed to tackle climate change.
In particular, he called for legislation that would be effective in compelling industry to live up to its responsibilities even if it chose to move production to poorer countries.
Speaking in the debate, EFA MEP Piernicola Pedicini said:
“Fighting against global warming means fighting against social cooling.
“Let’s take the example of large industries, including European industries, which proudly flaunt their modernity but, while they behave well in rich countries, dump poisons in poor countries.
“And I am not referring only to Africa or Latin America, but also to the poorest areas of our continent where the oil industry has permission to pollute water intended for human use and the steel industry has been allowed to poison the air we breathe.
“Why should those in poverty be forced to breathe the unbreathable, or accept the unacceptable?
“And just like the virus in the pandemic, polluting emissions know no border.
“Therefore, it is not enough to tighten legislation in rich countries; we need to bind industry to that legislation even when it moves its production to poorer countries.”
