Foreword
The Interdependence Pact is a citizens’ initiative which adheres to a new vision of Life on Earth and its interdependent nature.
2015 represented a watershed for the international community, having reinforced its internal bonds, it recognised the need for unprecedented international mobilisation to put a brake on the irreversible deterioration of the state of the world as we know it.
In fact, this multifaceted and varied community has just taken major decisions, not only in the area of human development, with the adoption of the new post-2015 agenda which determines the objectives for all of humanity over the next 15 years, but also at the level of climate change with the summit in Paris and the 3rd International Conference on Financing and Development1.
Since 2008, global crises – of food, of fuel of the economic and financial sectors – have clearly illustrated the shared vulnerability of the planet and the necessity for coordinated global responses. Moreover, these bear witness to the global interconnections and the mutual interest in organising collective action. Terms such as shared responsibility or global partnerships are being used more and more often in official documents and show the advent of a new paradigm.
The moment has come to forge a universal alliance based on mutual understanding of our shared humanity, which rests on the principle of interdependence in a world which is fast diminishing.
It is a fact that the international community is beginning to internalise the interdependence of all that exists, regardless of its nature – whether human, animal, vegetable or mineral. It can be seen above all in a certain calling into question of the economic growth model and of the need to address the eradication of poverty and inequality in the world.
The Pact
In view of the above:
Takes into account the unanimously recognised necessity to safeguard animal welfare and the conservation and protection of nature, whilst also needing to offset the negative effects of unlimited economic growth;
- leads to a diminishment of biodiversity and a loss of habitat;
- provokes harmful effects on animal welfare and negatively contributes to climate change, all of which have a detrimental effect on human beings, animals and our environment;
Notes that EU treaties2 bind the European Union and its Member States to aim for a much higher level of environmental protection, in applying the precautionary principle3, in taking preventative measures, as well as in the consideration of animals as being fully developed sentient beings;
Notes the considerable interest that European citizens constantly express about the conservation and protection of nature, and also animal welfare;
Emphasises strongly the fact that nature and animals also contribute to human happiness and wellbeing;
The Undersigned:
- Call on the European Union and Member States to do what is necessary to reduce their ecological footprint.
- Encourage governments to take into account the Gross National Happiness Indicator, informally endorsed by the UN and OECD, when they measure GNP; to quantify natural capital and to take into account environmental and social costs when evaluating levels of economic growth.
- Exhort the European Commission and Member States to make sufficient funds available to ensure that environmental and animal welfare legislation is respected and efficiently monitored. Request the introduction of a legal status for animals at a national level, or other measures aimed at recognising animals as full legal categories, entitled to rights and protection.
- Urge the European Commission and its Member States to introduce necessary measures to assure internal and external consistency within the Union with the aim of avoiding negative impacts from other policies on the afore-mentioned legislation.
- Recommend the instigation of stricter policy measures regarding the use of natural resources.
- Recommend that public institutions and private enterprises, as well as all relevant actors, invest in the promotion of effective awareness and information campaigns, and in training and the strengthening of capacities with a view to improving environmental protection and animal welfare.
- Exhort the European Union to act as a leader on the international stage in areas of environmental protection and animal welfare during free trade agreements or in international conventions negatiations. In particular, during the implementation of agreements arising from the New York summits on the new post 2015 agenda and the climate change summit in Paris.
| 1 | France hosted and presided over the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) and the 11th Meeting of the Parties to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol – (CMP11), also called ‘Paris 2015’ under the auspices of the UNFCCC from 30 November to 11 December 2015. |
| 2 | Article 13 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the EU |
| 3 | The precautionary principle is mentioned in Article 191 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the EU. |