In the aftermath of the green wave in the municipal elections, Emmanuel Macron received the 150 members of the Citizens’ Climate Convention on Monday at the Élysée Palace. Facing them, the president announced that an additional 15 billion euros would be injected over two years for the “ecological conversion” of France.
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The meeting had been planned for a long time, but it is timely. In the aftermath of the environmentalists ‘victory in several major cities in France, Emmanuel Macron welcomed the 150 members of the Citizens’ Climate Convention (CCC) to the Élysée Palace on June 29. Coming from all over the country, these drawn French people were asked last year to think about a “package” of solutions against global warming.
After working for nine months, the members of the CAC made their 149 proposals on June 21 to reduce greenhouse gases in France by 40% by 2030, all in the interests of social justice. A substantive work and a commitment welcomed by Emmanuel Macron, who addressed them in the gardens of the Élysée during a speech of more than 40 minutes.
“Let’s act”: the president will respect his “moral contract”
The French president has assured that he would transmit to Parliament, or even submit to a referendum, “all of the proposals” of the Citizen Climate Convention, “except three of them”, he said. he announces. Some will be decided at the end of July, others integrated into the recovery plan, but most will be the subject of a “specific bill” multi-measures in September, he said.
He also promised resources: an additional 15 billion euros for ecological transformation over two years, promising the establishment of an “ecological transformation fund for our economy in the recovery plan”, in particular for “investing in clean transport, renovating our buildings “and” inventing the industries of tomorrow “.
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Citizen’s Climate Convention: Emmanuel Macron hails “deliberative democracy”
Emmanuel Macron also said he was “ready” Monday to submit to referendums from 2021 certain proposals of the Citizen Convention for the climate, on the one hand to modify the Constitution, on the other hand for specific measures. “The rewriting of article 1 of our Constitution (…) to introduce the notions of biodiversity, environment, fight against global warming (…), I am in favor of this proposal”, said he said, also saying he was open to a referendum “on one or more pieces of law” incorporating other proposals from the Convention.
The president’s “three jokers”
On the other hand, the president rejected the proposal to reduce the maximum speed on motorways from 130 to 110 km / h. “The ecological transition must not be done to the detriment of the municipalities, the most isolated regions,” pleaded the head of state, also explaining that he wanted to prevent the work of the convention from “spoiling in a controversy”.
He also rejected the 4% dividend tax proposed by the Convention, which he said would “discourage investment”. Regarding another measure proposed by the Convention, a moratorium on the EU-Canada trade agreement (Ceta), Emmanuel Macron said: “I answer you, let’s continue to assess”.
He finally dismissed the request to rewrite the preamble to the Constitution to “place the environment above our other fundamental values”.
Nine months of intense work
The President was eagerly awaited, and he knew it. “We have fulfilled our part of the deal. We are therefore waiting for Emmanuel Macron to respect his commitment in turn,” tweeted the CCC on Monday, before the president’s speech.
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“The group is very proud and honored to be received here [à l’Élysée] after nine months of very intense work. There have been a lot of questions, a lot of doubts and a lot of energy invested in all of this. It is a great accomplishment to be here today “, explains to France 24 Amandine Roggeman, member of the CCC.
“But we also have a lot of pressure after the green wave on Sunday. I know that we are also expected at our level. And what is happening today is the syndrome of a very strong political moment which is beyond us “, she analyzes.
The Climate Convention received at the Elysée Palace: “It is a great achievement for us”
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Author: France 24 – Webnews
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