Earth Day: EU supply chain law must protect the planet!

GLOBAL 2000 demands: Climate and environmental obligations must be enshrined in EU supply chain law

On the occasion of tomorrow's Earth Day (April 22), GLOBAL 2000 is calling on the Members of the European Parliament. They are currently negotiating the draft of the Due Diligence Directive for companies (in short: EU Supply Chain Act). This directive is intended to make companies responsible for damage to people, the climate and the environment that occurs along their value chain. In order for this to actually have an effect, it is important that the consequences in the event of violations are also defined appropriately.

"It is important here that civil liability also applies to climate and environmental damage, just as it does in the area of working conditions," says Anna Leitner, resource expert at GLOBAL 2000. "Only if this civil liability is enshrined in EU supply chain law can it be ensured that companies actually comply with the requirements."

The next votes are expected to take place on April 25 in the Legal Affairs Committee and then at the end of May in the plenary session of the European Parliament. This is where it will be decided whether climate and environmental impacts will be anchored in the main part of the draft law, as demanded by NGOs, or whether there will only be a separate article that stipulates that companies must present a climate plan, but has no consequences for non-compliance.

"We call on the Austrian MPs to advocate for a strong supply chain law in the plenum," demands Leitner. "Because a new survey shows that 74% of Austrians want to see climate obligations enshrined in the Supply Chain Act. The members of parliament, as elected representatives of our country, must act in the interests of the population!"

The demand for strict climate and environmental obligations is not only supported by NGOs and the population, but also by dozens of scientists from all over Europe.

"The broad support clearly shows how urgently we need binding emission reduction measures and environmental protection measures here," says Leitner. "We also need to remember that a few large corporations are currently causing the majority of environmental and climate damage. We all pay the costs. From heatwaves and droughts to floods and other natural catastrophes, we can clearly see that we are pushing the planet to its limits. Especially people in the Global South and those who cannot afford to protect themselves from the effects are already suffering the consequences. A strong EU supply chain law could not only protect the environment and climate, but also ensure a more climate-friendly world in which those companies that have caused the damage are asked to pay."