Social Economy Europe and the American Sustainable Business Council welcome the achievements of the Leader’s Summit on Climate
The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) and Social Economy Europe (SEE), representing over 3.1 Million social economy enterprises and organizations and Triple Bottom-line (People, Planet, Profit) Businesses and Business Organizations, welcome the vision and determination shown at the Leader’s Summit on Climate convened by the President of the United States.
Both the US and the EU have committed to become carbon neutral by 2050 but now the common push is for 2030. The European Union has just reached an agreement to approve its first Climate Law aiming at setting into law the objective of a climate-neutral EU by 2050, and a collective, net greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. President Biden’s climate change advisor, Gina McCarthy, noted, “It’s about what we do in the next decade”.
ASBC and SEE agree with President Biden’s message in his opening statement: “That’s what we can do if we take action to build an economy that’s not only more prosperous, but healthier, fairer, and cleaner for the entire planet,” he said, while also encouraging other countries to act.
SEE: “EU Commission President Von der Leyen said that this is our generation’s man on the moon moment. The Green Transition offers opportunities to create jobs, empower citizens; move from a centralized and polluting energy system to a decentralized and citizen-led renewable energy system. We see the opportunities to change our cities, renovate our buildings, rethink mobility; to give a second life to products and materials while creating work opportunities for individuals at risk of exclusion, to boost a more sustainable agriculture or a more ethical and transparent finance. All hands are needed to achieve these objectives, it’s a collective project. Social economy enterprises and sustainable businesses are pioneers in the Green Transition and united we stand to join our forces to fight climate change and build an economy that works for people and the planet. If we want a successful and popular green transition no one can be left behind”.-SEE President, Juan Antonio Pedreño.
ASBC: “Along with our partner Social Economy Europe, we believe that business and social economy leaders can and must play a role in helping shape and advocate for the policies to shape an equitable, just and sustainable economy. The business community we represent sees the incredible opportunity to reshape and rebuild our economies stronger and fairer as we reduce and eliminate the threat of the climate crisis. To address the full climate challenge, we need to find real solutions and take determined action throughout all facets of our economy from reimagining green infrastructure, regenerative agriculture, safer chemicals, plastic, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green buildings, to a more just transition from fossil fuels so that no energy community is left behind in the global march towards an inclusively cleaner, healthier and more equitable planet”. –ASBC President & co-founder, David Levine.
Social Economy Europe (SEE https://www.socialeconomy.eu.org/) is the voice of the 2.8 million social economy enterprises and organizations in the European Union, that employ 13.6 million people and account for 8% of the EU’s GDP. Social Economy Europe has been a catalyst for new key initiatives at the European level, most notably the renewal of the European Parliament’s Social Economy Intergroup with the backing of over 80 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), belonging to the leading political constituencies. Last June, the Social Economy Intergroup held an online hearing on Co-designing the European Action Plan for the Social Economy, as a leverage for the Economic and Social Recovery of Europe.
Media Inquiries:
For SEE:
Victor Meseguer,
Director of Social Economy Europe,
Boulevard Charlemagne 74, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
M: +32471768227
For ASBC:
Michael Neuwirth
Chief Communications Officer