Climate action matters in this election

Kim Jun-beum
The author is a professor at the University of Technology of Troyes.

Humanity stands before an unprecedented climate crisis. Weather disasters from global warming has become frequent, and their toll is growing heavier. Some even see climate calamities in the making. Global warming has become an imperative issue that no longer can be put off. It demands urgent attention and high prioritization throughout the upcoming parliamentary elections on April 10.

We must define our attitudes and direction as voters for the environment, which is a central issue in this election. By voting for climate action, we are protecting our planet and proactively responding to natural disaster. In other words, voters should act on the climate crisis through political participation, including casting their ballots for climate action.

Scientific research and data show deepening climate risks. Without strong action, we will face a breakdown of our ecosystem, economic chaos and social unrest. Therefore, climate policy must be a crucial issue for votes. We must press policymakers to present practical actions that will ensure a sustainable future.

The European Union has been the most aggressive in responding to climate change in the international community and elections are packed across the EU this year. The European Parliament’s election is scheduled for June 6–9. EU citizens elect 720 members of its parliament every five years. Each country’s number of representatives is proportional to its population.

Climate policies will serve as the decisive factors for the EU political map. Right-wing parties, riding on support across Europe, are negative towards the union’s ambiguous green policies. Experts cautiously anticipate that the EU Commission’s climate policies could retreat as a result of the election’s outcome.

Political parties and policymakers in the EU are concentrating on their key platforms. Some are devising follow-up measures to the union’s green growth strategy of the last four years. The updated initiative, or Europe’s Green Deal 2.0, places a stronger focus on members’ industrial policy, stressing the need for the EU to position itself as a leader in the green and climate technology competition in the coming years.

Recent polls show that climate change has become the biggest concern for European voters and could shape the outcome of its upcoming parliamentary election. The European Council on Foreign Relations conducted a poll in 11 EU nations — the nine states that represent 75 percent of the bloc’s population plus Britain and Switzerland. Its report split European voters into five “crisis tribes” based on their response to climate change, global economic turmoil, immigration, the Covid-19 pandemic and Ukraine’s war against Russia.

Climate change was singled out as the biggest crisis of the last 10 years as it most affected voters’ views of the future. The report projected the people belonging to the climate change crisis tribe could make up almost 74 percent of 372 million eligible votes for the European Parliament’s election.

Korean voters must also exercise their “climate influence” through their votes. By backing climate-conscious candidates, voters can contribute to ushering in climate-friendly leadership. They must support strong actions, such as an increase in the use of renewable energy, a reduction in carbon emissions and the aggressive protection of ecosystems. They need to pitch the importance of climate risk response through social media, community platforms and gatherings.

Voters for climate action are not just any voters. They are joining the global campaign to combat the global warming through their votes. They are fighting not only for wellbeing in the present, but also for the sustainable growth of future generations. Declaring oneself as a climate voter can be a strong wake-up call for actions. If we all play our role as voters, we can combat the climate crisis for a better — and certainly brighter — future.

Translation by the Korea JoongAng Daily staff.