INTERVIEW
This is a symbolic action led by young people Friday: a "climate strike" that keeps them away from classrooms to warn about the urgency of climate change. An initiative hailed by the former Minister of the Environment, Ségolène Royal, at the microphone of Europe 1. "Young people can put pressure on the States because they mobilize powerfully, and that's new" , she said. "For having chaired the Paris climate conference [in 2015, I know that] this mobilization of young people did not exist, so it has grown in power."
According to the current ambassador of the poles, "the voice of young people, which puts previous generations before their responsibilities, forces us to act". And virulent criticism by some of their gondola heads, Greta Thunberg, make her jump. "I find it scandalous, it is the very demonstration of the misunderstanding of the generation before When young people speak to tell truths, they deserve respect." This young woman, contrary to what is said, do not repeat formulas, she is very brilliant, fortunately they are there, these young people. "
Better monitoring of environmental policies
On the substance of the subject, namely global environmental policies, Ségolène Royal advocates further monitoring. "Mobilizations and summits must lead to action and accountability, and I would prefer that, rather than summits, there be a public scorecard on how each state has fulfilled its obligations. under the Paris Climate Agreements. " But the former minister recognizes that sanctions are almost impossible to take against the latecomers and / or recalcitrant. "The constraints are very difficult to put in place, it would mean that an international body is able to make punishments on the countries."
The link between growth and respect for the environment is nevertheless a good reason to hope, according to Ségolène Royal. "China, today, is passing in front of us in terms of electric vehicles or ramping up on renewable energies", she takes as an example. "There is a healthy rivalry around technologies that create activities and jobs.When countries are finally convinced that going out of the crisis and unemployment [will be] also thanks to the energy and ecological transition, positive dynamics will emerge. in place."