TIME TO INVEST IN A HEALTHY FUTURE:

TIME FOR A GREEN & JUST RECOVERY

French Spanish Portuguese

We call upon EU and national leaders to tackle the unprecedented crisis caused by the Covid-
19 pandemic with unity, courage and innovation.

During this time of crisis, which is taking the lives of many and putting people's livelihoods at
risk, it is essential that our leaders issue a strong response. We therefore welcome the plans to
make substantial funds available to fight the health emergency, tackle unemployment, and
support Europe’s small businesses, but more will be needed.

Millions of Europeans long for an end to the lockdown, to be reunited with our family and loved
ones, and to get back to work. But we do not want a return to business as usual, to an economic
model which has exacerbated social inequalities, jeopardised our health, and driven our planet’s
climate and nature to the brink of collapse. Instead, we believe that now is the time to radically
and rapidly make our economies greener, fairer, and more resilient against future shocks.

While the immediate priority is to address the public health emergency, public stimulus
packages will have to be developed to relaunch the economy, create millions of jobs and
support people - especially the most vulnerable - through this difficult time. How we respond to
the crisis will determine whether we succeed or fail in the fight against climate change, the loss
of nature, widespread pollution and inequality, and create health benefits for all. The EU and its
governments must therefore demonstrate leadership and foresight by directing all public
stimulus investments at accelerating the transition to a just, resilient and sustainable economy,
boosting the European Green Deal to deliver even more.

We call upon political leaders to develop comprehensive EU and national Sustainable Recovery
Plans. In particular, this means:

● Step up policy action against climate change and biodiversity loss at EU, national and
international level, by strengthening and continuing the implementation of the targets,
strategies and laws announced in the European Green Deal;
● In high-carbon and other potentially polluting sectors such as intensive agriculture, make
support to companies conditional on their alignment with environmental and climate
objectives. No bailouts should be given to unviable or polluting industries that have no
future in tomorrow’s economy. State aid, loans, subsidies and other direct or indirect
support to companies must come with strict conditions, monitored and enforced by the
EU, and focus on sustainable initiatives and the creation of sustainable jobs;
● The establishment of a sizable green recovery fund backed up by all available EU
financial tools (including the MFF and its spending programmes, new funds, the use of
the European Stability Mechanism and exploring so-called ‘eurobonds’), to finance the
green and just recovery. These interventions must be based on established principles
such as transparency, accountability and community-driven solutions.
 ● Public and private investment throughout the recovery should be guided by the EU’s
taxonomy to accelerate the shift from polluting into green sectors; similarly the European
Investment Bank should bring its lending policies in line with the European Green Deal
objectives by end 2020; In addition, sustainable finance policies should be accelerated
and a taxonomy of unsustainable practices to be excluded agreed.
● All recovery plans must put people’s well-being at the heart of the crisis response and
deliver social benefits and protect workers’ rights through a ‘just transition for all’.

We support the many appeals for green recovery that have blossomed across Europe:
By 13 EU governments, Members of the European Parliament, the Club of Rome, scientists,
NGOs, 200 representatives from business and politics, energy companies, and many more. The
European Council had also called on the EU to prepare an economic recovery plan that would
integrate the green transition. To these voices we add ours.

Please do not let these calls go unanswered.

SIGNATORIES

EU (Brussels)
WWF European Policy Office (on behalf of European WWF network)
Transport & Environment (T&E)
BirdLife Europe
Greenpeace European Unit
Friends of the Earth Europe
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe
European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
CEE Bankwatch Network
Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)
Naturefriends International
Wetlands International Europe
Youth and Environment Europe
GoParity
Ocean Alive
Protect Our Winters Europe
WECF - Women Engage for a Common Future
Health Care Without Harm (Europe)
ECOS
Justice and Environment
Seas At Risk
Surfrider Foundation Europe
European Bureau for Conservation and Development
Agir Pour Le Climat
REScoop.eu
International
WeMove
Mountain Wilderness International
Mighty Earth
Avaaz
SumOfUs
Whywaste
Environmental Defense Fund
Humanity Consulting
Think tank Global Challenges
Design for All Foundation
Društvo 20000 milja
Workers For Future
Health and Environment Justice Support
Feasta (Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability)

Austria
VCÖ –Mobilität mit Zukunft
Klimavolksbegehren
Future Aid - Die Zukunft braucht unsere Hilfe!
CliMates Austria
Umweltdachverband
EU-Umweltbüro

Belgium
Inter-Environnement Wallonie
Bond Beter Leefmilieu
Climaxi
Rise for Climate Belgium

Czech Republic
Society for Sustainable Living

Croatia
Zelena akcija/Friends of the Earth Croatia
Eko-Eko Komin
Udruga Žmergo
Udruga Argonauta
"Eko-Zadar"

Cyprus
Ecological Movement Cyprus
Finland
350 Finland
Climate Move
The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation

France
Réseau Action Climat
France Nature Environnement
Fondation Nicolas Hulot
Respire
Générations Futures
Réseau Environnement Santé
UNISPOURLECLIMAT
Avignon Zéro Fossile

Greece
ECOCITY NGO

Germany
Deutsche Umwelthilfe
Verkehrsclub Deutschland VCD
For Future Bürgewald
NaturFreunde Sachsen-Anhalt e.V.
HEAL Deutschland

Hungary
Levego
National Society of Conservationists - Friends of the Earth Hungary
EMLA

Ireland
An Taisce - National Trust for Ireland
VOICE Ireland
Good Energies Alliance Ireland
Forest Friends Ireland

Italy
Legambiente
Cittadini per l’aria
Fondazione per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile
Mountain Wilderness Italia
Club Alpino Italiano
Touring Club Italiano
Italia Nostra Onlus
Lipu-BirdLife Italia
Istituto Nazionale di Urbanistica
FOCSIV (Italian Federation of Christian NGOs)
Verdi Ambiente e Società (VAS)
Società Italiana di Geologia Ambientale - Sigea
LAC - Lega per l'Abolizione della Caccia
Verdi Ambiente e Società (VAS)
Ente Nazionale Protezione Animali
AMBIENTE e LAVORO
Parents for future Ferrara
Parents For Future Italia
ASSOCIAZIONE NAZIONALE DEI RANGERS D'ITALIA
Medici per l'Ambiente- ISDE Italia
Papale-papale
A.N.G.E.V. - Sede Operativa
Italia Nostra Onlus - Sezione di Viterbo-Tuscia Viterbese
GIAN - Gruppo Italiano Amici della Natura

Latvia
Zero Waste Latvia
Green Liberty
Latvian Fund for Nature

Lithuania
Žiedinė ekonomika

Macedonia
Eko-svest

Moldova
International Association of River Keepers Eco-TIRAS

Netherlands
Natuurenmilieu
Milieudefensie
Stichting Ecobaby

Norway
Bellona Europa

Poland
Polish Ecological Club Mazovian Branch
FPPE
Społeczny Rzecznik Pieszych w Bydgoszczy
Stowarzyszenie Ekologiczne EKO-UNIA
Society for Nature and Man
Polish Zero Waste Association

Portugal
Quercus
ZERO
ANP - Associação Natureza Portugal
Divespot
NBI - Natural Business Intelligence
Circular - Consultoria em Sustentabilidade
Raízes Mag
Parents For Future Portugal
Liga para a Protecção da Natureza

Romania
Romanian Ornithological Society
Transylvanian Carpathia Society - Satu Mare
Fundatia Conservation Carpathia
ECOTOP Oradea
Asociatia Rangerilor din Romania
Kogayon Association
Romanian Bat Protection Association
Center for Protected Areas and Sustainable Development Bihor
Aqua Crisius
Association Milvus Group
Organizația Studentilor pentru Natură
Biciclistii activisti

Slovakia
CEPTA - Centre for Sustainable Alternatives

Slovenia
Red Tree Heritage institute

Spain
Salvia
Ecodes
Sociedad Civil por el Debate
Red de periodistas rurales
PTP
FER - fundacion renovables
Ecounion
Fundació Horta Sud

Sweden
Naturskyddsföreningen
Jordens Vänner
Climate Parliament Sweden (Klimatriksdagen)
The Swedish Association for Responsible Consumption
Klimatklubben
Europafederalisterna
Energy Effeiciency Supplier´s Association
Klimatsverige
Bergshamra Yoga
Klimatstudenterna
FoodFighters
Jenny Lundahl arkitektur

Switzerland
Alpine Initiative
Oceancare

UK
Community Hygiene Concern

This appeal is open to signatories from organisations here.

A public petition was launched in cooperation with WeMove.eu. It can be signed here.