INTERVIEW
The 150 French people drawn by lot from the Citizen's Climate Convention are due to present their proposals next week to fight global warming. A real challenge, while Emmanuel Macron announced Sunday during his speech wanting to rebuild "a strong, ecological, sovereign and united economy". "All these people who knew nothing about ecology, it will transform their lives. And the report they will make can, perhaps, transform the lives of French people", rejoices on Europe 1 Yann Arthus-Bertrand, president of the Goodplanet foundation.
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"I absolutely believe in it"
He considers "formidable" the creation of this body by the President of the Republic. An idea born from the yellow vests crisis, whose first meeting was held last October. 150 people, from all over France and of all ages, were drawn to work on the following question: "How to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 - official objective of France - in a spirit of social justice? " They were therefore surrounded by scientists and experts on the subject.
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Yann Arthus-Bertrand is enthusiastic about their proposals, notably the modification of article 1 of the Constitution. "They would like to add the word 'solidarity' between the generations to speak of climate change, and ecological in the definition of the Republic," he explains. "Which means that there would be a referendum on it and this is something very important that Macron launched, it was an idea of Nicolas Hulot and Cyril Dion. I absolutely believe in it." The members of the Convention have also worked on work, accommodation, travel and how to consume.
For the president of the Goodplanet foundation, it is important to act now, without leaving the younger generations responsible for the fate of the planet. "We must not count on the young generation to change the world, we must first do it ourselves. It would be dishonest to ask children to do what we are not able to do", assures- he.
"Everyone wants it to change"
To warn of the urgency of the climate situation, the Goodplanet Foundation has launched a donation campaign to support various ongoing environmental protection projects, which have been undermined by confinement. A sanitary period which, according to Yann Arthus Bertrand, increased the need for a return to nature, particularly in the desire to green cities. "There is a lot to do, and it is in the sense of history," he says. "Everyone wants it to change."
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However, he remains lucid about the current economic situation, which requires rapid recovery. "We clearly felt in the president a real concern about the economic recovery. He even spoke of the word bankruptcy, which is rare. And I think that preserving jobs, businesses, purchasing power, all of this must be priority. And I think that ecology, and that is normal, may be put a little under the carpet. "