Environment
The Pirates support the aims and principles declared by the EU to safeguard our water, air, soil, natural environment and raw materials for the sake of our health and well-being. We also agree with doing this in a sustainable way by taking account of economic, social and regional aspects and by acting responsibly towards future generations and animal welfare.
The Pirates appreciate the progress made thanks to EU environmental laws. However, while voluntary measures by potential polluters may work sometimes, they cannot be relied upon. Legal loopholes and weaknesses are being used to serve economic interests with the public ultimately having to pay for the environmental and health damages. We, therefore, seek more effective implementation and enforcement of the principles of precaution, prevention, ‘polluters paying’, as well as tackling problems at their sources. Sanctions in the case of non-compliance need to be strengthened. Environmental whistleblowers play a vital role for the benefit of society. They need to receive more support and compensation arrangements which match more realistically their professional and personal damages.
To increase transparency and reliability, we want to make the scientific approach mandatory in any environmental decision-making process. The public has the right to easy, timely and reliable access to environmental data and the decisions resulting from it. This information should also include methods of monitoring and investigations. The data should be available at all times on governmental websites. Scientific advice and specifications which form the basis for administrative and legal decisions need to be sourced from independent experts. Participation in relevant meetings needs to be affordable. Furthermore, a diverse supply of independent scientists needs to be maintained. This can only be achieved by adequately funding academic research into acute and emerging environmental problems rather than increasingly promoting research with links to industry.
Implementation of environmental laws has to focus on achieving the stated aims and not just generate additional records and registrations. Regulations must not require registrations in every single EU country, a central registration should be sufficient so as not to obstruct access to the common market for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The environmental impact of any associated bureaucracy has to be taken into account when deciding on the suitability of an approach.
Climate
The Paris Agreement to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels has to be implemented. The necessary concepts and technologies for achieving the climate protection goal have been developed. The Pirates demand the legal conditions for these technologies to be used. Emissions of CO2 from cross-border goods, as resulting from power generation, for example, should be attributable to the importing countries. The expansion of electricity production using renewable energy must not be restricted by law in the countries of the European Union. Construction of new renewable energy sources must be subject to careful consideration of wider impact on the environment and we have to weigh their net environmental benefit.
Energy
We want to establish a sustainable and reliable energy infrastructure. The transition from fossil resources to renewables and clean energy sources is necessary. Use of energy sources has to be sustainable and must not be in conflict with other environmental objectives. Our target is a transparent and decentralized structure of energy suppliers which guarantees participatory options for all citizens and prevents monopolies.
