Environment: Convention wants referendum to include climate in the Constitution

Use the referendum to change the French Constitution in order to introduce the fight against global warming. This is what the 150 citizens of the Citizens Climate Convention (CCC) asked for on Sunday, June 20. They also wish to submit to a referendum the creation of a crime of "ecocide". Instructs the executive to enforce the other measures that the Convention has adopted, after nine months of work.

Vote # referendum 🗳️

With the objective relating to ecocide, two other proposals for revision of the Constitution were submitted to referendum by the members of the #ConventionCitoyenne pour le #climat 👥🌍✅https: //t.co/9558XDwVYY

>> To read: the Climate Convention meets to vote on its proposals

The Minister of the Ecological and Solidarity Transition Élisabeth Borne will receive, on Sunday afternoon, on behalf of the executive, the committee's proposals. She estimated that a referendum "would make it possible to share the work" of the Convention "with all the French" and "to mature the ecological conscience".

   But the members of the CCC took the opposite foot of the capacity, voting against the idea of ​​putting to the referendum of their concrete measures. With the exception, therefore, of the introduction into the preamble and article 1 of the Constitution of the concepts of environmental protection, biodiversity and "the fight against climate change" and the introduction into law French for an "ecocide" crime - aimed at repressing serious damage to the environment - which has already been rejected in Parliament.

"Constitution, ecocide, OK for a referendum. For the rest, that the power takes its responsibilities," launched one of the participants, summarizing the arguments put forward by most of the speakers.

"All of our measures are great. We encourage all of our fellow citizens to seize it and control the work of politicians," insisted for her part, a citizen of the Convention, Yolande.

Limitation of working time rejected

One of the most controversial measures, the reduction of working time to four days (28 hours) per week, had been largely (65%) rejected on Saturday, the only one not to be adopted by the members. In addition to the consequences for businesses, many of the 150 were worried about the image it would give of their work: "We are going to pass for puppets," launched one of the members.

Another measure that should polarize public opinion: the reduction of speed on the highway from 130 to 110km / h. The proposal unsurprisingly sparked the ire of motorist associations, echoing the discontent already unleashed by the 80km / h on national.

Among other measures is a strong advertising framework, with banning signs in outdoor public space and advertising for products with a high carbon footprint - such as large SUV type vehicles. As well as heavy taxes on ultra-processed food, the ban on GMO seeds, a higher taxation of nitrogen fertilizers and the halving in 2030 of the use of pesticides, and the ban on the most dangerous of here 2035.

The list also includes a ban on heated terraces, lighting stores at night or a tax on corporate dividends to finance the transformation of the productive tool.

With AFP

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