SOLIDAR & partners express concerns over the future of Social Climate Fund
March 23, 2022
Together with partner organisations and a dozen other members of the European Alliance for a Just Transition, SOLIDAR calls on EU institutions and Member States to carry the creation of the Social Climate Fund through and to be more ambitious and solidary with regard to its budget, governance and set-up.
The Social Climate Fund (SCF or Fund), which the European Commission (EC) proposed as part of its Fit for 55 package in July 2021, has the potential to be one of the leading instruments to deliver a socially fair and Just Transition to climate neutrality. The Fund can help to usher in bold and transformative action at all levels of society for systemic change to build a sustainable and safe future for all, especially for those on the margins and in vulnerable situations.
However, without certain policy reforms and safeguards, there is a strong risk that the SCF will fail from the outset. The EC’s proposal foresees an insufficient budget, a lack of shared governance and a less-than-ideal set-up. Moreover, some EU Member States are opposed to the idea of creating a SCF in the first place.
Together with Climate Action Network Europe, Equinox, European Anti-Poverty Network, European Disability Forum, European Left, European Network Against Racism, Foundation for European Progressive Studies, Generation Climate Europe, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability Europe, Open Society European Policy Institute, Social Platform, Transport & Environment, WWF European Policy Office and Youth and Environment Europe, SOLIDAR calls on EU institutions and Member States to be more ambitious and solidary and incorporate the following recommendations:
- SCF must be a transformative instrument tackling structural injustices.
- It must target underrepresented groups and those in vulnerable situations, as well as ensuring meaningful participation of stakeholders.
- It must engage and empower people in vulnerable situations towards renewables and better energy efficiency.
- A large and impactful SCF is essential for a socially fair Fit for 55 package.
Read here the full joint statement on the Social Climate Fund.
Read here SOLIDAR’s opinion piece on Euractiv.
