Peaceful protests are valid and important, but lasting change will come through genuine democracy, say Green Party
23 August 2021
The Green Party says planned peaceful protests by Extinction Rebellion against the billions poured into fossil fuels [1] are an important part of a democratic society, but that genuine democracy, with a fair electoral system, is needed to deliver lasting change. Greens have also repeated calls for a carbon tax to move funding away from damaging climate wrecking activities towards a green transition.
Zack Polanski, Democracy and Citizen Engagement spokesperson for the Green Party, said:
“Peaceful protests by campaigners against the damage being inflicted on our planet by destructive fossil fuel investments are both valid and important. But real and lasting change must be political.
“We’ve seen what genuine democracy can achieve. In countries with a fair and proportional electoral system, Green politicians have their fair share of seats in government. In Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands and now Scotland, Greens can take our policies into government and deliver the green policies that are so urgently needed in this climate emergency [2].
“Here in the UK, we’ve seen what can be achieved when citizens engage in participatory processes. The first UK-wide citizens’ assembly on climate change saw participants make far bolder recommendations on reaching net zero than those proposed by government [3].
“For Greens, the most powerful policy needed right now, to rapidly eliminate fossil fuels from our economies and fund a green transition is a global carbon tax [4]. This is a policy that Greens in government would push for.”
ENDS
Notes
[2] The achievements of Greens in government in Finland: https://greennbvert.ca/green-party-accomplishments/
[3] Climate Assembly Executive Summary: https://www.climateassembly.uk/report/read/final-report-exec-summary.pdf
[4] Green Party response to IPCC report – a call for a global carbon tax: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2021/08/09/green-party-responds-to-latest-ipcc-report/