Oxfam Reaction to the December European Council

Published: 10th December 2020


Commenting at the close of the EU council meeting where leaders agreed on a new EU 2030 climate target and discussed the EU’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Evelien van Roemburg, head of Oxfam’s EU advocacy office said:  

Climate 

“The new, more ambitious, EU 2030 target still falls short of what is needed and what is fair. The EU must take urgent practical steps to deliver above and beyond this target.  

“It won’t be possible to deliver on the new climate target if governments don’t cut the emissions of the richest 10% of Europeans who are responsible for more than a quarter of EU emissions. We need a fair European Green Deal that tackles luxury carbon emissions and confronts inequality. This means ending subsidies for fossil fuels, introducing taxes on aviation fuel, and banning SUVs. Revenues should be invested in housing renovation and public transport that will deliver millions of jobs, clean air, and warm homes for everyone.” 

Covid-19 

“EU leaders’ talk of a ‘shared spirit of global solidarity to defeat the pandemic’ rings hollow given that they are actively blocking proposals at the World Trade Organisation that would force big pharma to waive their monopolies and patents on vaccines – a move that could boost vaccine production and end this pandemic faster. We need a People’s Vaccine, not a profit vaccine.” 
 

Notes to editors

 

Contact information

Jade Tenwick | EU media assistant | jade.tenwick.@oxfam.org | desk +32 2 234 11 15 | mobile +32 473 562260  

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