On 6 February 2019 the Conference ‘Toward a Global Pact for the Environment’ took place at the European Parliament. Some of you were there and we thank you for your participation, for those who missed it here is a little summary.

During his opening speech Laurent Fabius, former president of the COP21 states that Europe is one of the few actors that can save the environment. In this perspective he underlined that a strong and united European position was key to the success of the Global Pact project.

Daniel Calleja Crespo – Director-General for Environment – European Commission, expressed his strong support for the project and said as a joke ‘it is such a good idea I am surprised it is not coming from the European commission’. 

Two panels of eminent speakers

The first round table gathered Yann Aguila – Chair of the Environment Commission of the Club des juristes, Lord Robert Carnwath – Justice at the UK Supreme Court, Juliane Kokott – Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union and Luc Lavrysen – Judge at the Belgium Constitutional Court. It was moderated by Maria Magdalena Kenig-Witkowska, Professor of legal sciences, University of Warsaw.

The second round table gathered Nicolas Beaumont – VP Sustainable development and Mobility – Michelin, Montserrat Mir Roca – Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) –  Patrizia Heidegger – Director of Global Policies and Sustainability – European Environment Bureau, Manoella Wilbaut – Head of Global Commercial Developments – Sustainability – DHL and was moderated by Marie Toussaint, Former President of the NGO Notre Affaire à tous.

The first panel, composed of jurists, expressed their support to the project and explained why a such Pact would be useful for judges. The second panel made it clear that the economic sector and the civil society are also demanding a Global Pact for the Environment. All the participants, although coming from different background agreed on that a unique legal tool gathering all the guiding principles for the environment protection is a necessity.