Resolution on climate law adopted by Hungarian parliament

Resolution on climate law adopted by Hungarian parliament

The Hungarian parliament adopted a landmark resolution on 22nd June, setting out the content for a national climate law. The resolution, initiated by Friends of the Earth and the National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD), received unprecedented cross-party support after being submitted in May by the Chair of the House and 1 representative of each party.

This vote is a huge step towards the realisation of the climate law as the elaboration of its content can start immediately. According to the resolution, the NCSD - in co-operation with the Government and public stakeholders - starts the compilation of the climate bill which will be submitted to Parliament by the end of February 2010.

The resolution received 324 votes in favour and 1 against, and received backing of parliamentary committees for Economy, Environment and Agriculture. It sets out that the climate law shall contain the Hungarian GHG mitigation targets; a legislative base for a gradual reduction of the national fossil energy use; the increase of renewable energy source use and more effective energy saving and -efficiency legislation; moreover, effective economic incentives for the necessary public, community and economic investments.

A key to the success of the climate law initiative is the wide public support of the issue due to the local actions, forums and meetings organized nation-wide by FoE Hungary and its regional partner NGOs. The petition was signed by 82 MPs, 180 NGOs and more than ten thousand individuals. “People stand up for the positive public interest issue of the climate law independently from parties – this can bring the society together in these crisis years” said Alexa Botár, Head of the climate program at Friends of the Earth Hungary.

Big Ask Hungary website: www.klimatorveny.hu