"This will be a crucial year for a fair climate policy,” said Groen’s co-presidents on Saturday. The Flemish ecologists are meeting all weekend in Vilvoorde for their summer political meeting under the heading “Refresh”.
According to co-president Nadia Naji, it is necessary to accelerate the climate transition to eliminate inequalities in society and offer everyone the chance to live in good health. The party is proposing, for example, an interest-free loan of €80,000 for energy renovations or 200,000 new carbon-neutral social housing units.
For the Flemish, this coming year will be decisive, offering a a choice between a 'fairer climate policy' or a 'carte blanche for the big polluters.' In her speech, Naji highlighted the devastating impact of the climate crisis, which has manifested itself in extreme weather events over the summer.
Co-chair Jérémie Vaneeckhout, for his part, defended the record of Groen ministers. "Federal Minister Tinne Van Der Straeten has invested in four times as much offshore wind. We are continuing to promote an extension of the social energy tariff and cheaper electricity thanks to excise duties," he said.
The reduction in public transport fares in Brussels was also highlighted. “If Elke Van den Brandt managed to achieve this with STIB in Brussels, it should also be possible for De Lijn in prosperous Flanders. Because we mustn’t forget that many people depend on public transport because they don’t have the money for a car or an electric bike,” said Vaneeckhout.
"Wherever the Greens govern, they use all the levers to define a fairer climate policy, at federal level, in Brussels and at local level,” concluded Naji.
