00:00:00: Hello, dear listeners.

00:00:02: Here is the latest episode of my podcast Creating a Future part of The the objective series.

00:00:15: When did the reversal in European environmental policies?

00:00:19: Which like many I deplore begin?

00:00:26: two events stand out for me.

00:00:31: almost eight years ago now In November the Yellow Vests revolt erupted in France.

00:00:44: It was a spontaneous movement, deliberately leaderless and without manifesto representing a pure tax revolt by middle- and working classes living in rural and suburban areas against an environmental tax on fossil fuels.

00:01:11: This movement saw violent demonstrations and was itself the target of brutal police repression.

00:01:22: This destructive chain-of events deepened this social and geographical divide that had originally sparked it.

00:01:34: Above all, It instilled a lasting fear in any political will in France And more broadly across the European Union to pursue ecological transition Closer than present.

00:01:56: In the spring of twenty-four, European farmers at a call for their professional organizations embarked on campaign protests leading to massive disruption traffic and logistics in some cases severe damage public buildings with complete impunity.

00:02:22: There were many causes for this discontent arise enterprise nitrogen fertilizers linked Russian of a crane, two successive years of drought resulting from climate disorder.

00:02:44: Low and falling incomes within an unequal commercial relationship with large-scale retails.

00:02:55: rather than tackling these root causes which highlight the impasse have directed their demands against the weakest opponent, environmental regulations.

00:03:19: Primarily those set up at European scale.

00:03:24: Their fault timidly pointing a way forward to get out of this impulse.

00:03:33: Their vulnerability being target for constant slander from uninspired national politicians and receiving deliberately insufficient media coverage.

00:03:49: Once again Within a matter of weeks, governments and the European Commission have caved in and legitimized this hostile rhetoric towards environmental standards.

00:04:05: In June, as part of this regressive trend, the elections brought right-wing and far-right majority into the European Parliament which has since been methodically dismantling The achievements of the European Green Deal.

00:04:31: Crucians, can we draw from this?

00:04:36: That this backlash is inevitable and that european society Is irrevocably locked into an economic model And in particular An agricultural model that destroys natural environment on which our lives depend?

00:04:59: In the biological sense Of the term No I draw is quite different.

00:05:14: It's this, social justice... ...is the absolute prerequisite for any environmental action.

00:05:29: Social Justice isn't a nice to have A marginal adjustment Charitable handout at end of speech.

00:05:44: it must be first major and central pillar Of transformation in our society towards sustainability.

00:05:59: Not merely to avoid a repeat of the conflicts, sometimes violent that I have just mentioned quite simply because humanity is all in the same boat planet earth and there is not nor will ever be lifeboat or an emergency escape pod for anyone on this ship.

00:06:38: it's simply unacceptable to demand considerable efforts to adapt from those toiling in the hold, while first-class passengers continue their orgy of overconsumption as if nothing were a miss.

00:07:03: The effort we must make particularly in terms of consumption –to ensure our society is sustainable massive rapid and long term with no hope of returning to the so-called normality or late twentieth century.

00:07:29: He must all make these efforts, and the wealthiest far moreso than the rest.

00:07:42: It's a very purpose for this social pact proposed by the Cosmopolitical Cooperative in its long term vision The Society Of Agreement.

00:07:57: You'll be able To listen to next episode In coming days.

00:08:03: See you soon.