Resource Justice & New economies
Friends of the Earth Europe campaigns for resource justice, resource use reduction and to galvanise collective action from governments and people to redesign an economy that serves the wellbeing of all people and our shared planet.
Friends of the Earth member groups involved in this work: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
© Linda Luciani
Resource use, circular economy and mining
In 2024, we continued to push for sustainable resources management and a circular economy based on sufficiency. To raise it on the political agenda, we sent an open letter to European and national decision-makers, signed by more than 100 organisations. We also provided constructive input to the Belgian Presidency, so that during the Environmental Council meeting on 17th of June 2024, the Environment Ministers from Member States adopted ambitious conclusions regarding sustainable resource use.
After adoption of the Critical Raw Materials Act, we scrutinised its implementation and have raised concerns regarding socio-environmental risks, bringing them under the attention of the European Commission by providing evidence on the impacts by mining projects. We gave a voice to grassroots organisations at local level through various communication activities, thus bridging the gap between the EU institutions and European citizens.
After adoption of the Critical Raw Materials Act, we scrutinised its implementation and have raised concerns regarding socio-environmental risks, bringing them under the attention of the European Commission by providing evidence on the impacts by mining projects. We gave a voice to grassroots organisations at local level through various communication activities, thus bridging the gap between the EU institutions and European citizens.
Towards a Sustainable Economy
Since 2022, Friends of the Earth Europe led a coalition with three NGO partners, which aims to achieve a paradigm shift towards a sustainable economy beyond GDP.
In 2024, we facilitated the international collaboration between organisers of country-level Beyond Growth conferences, sparked by the European Parliament Beyond Growth Conference in 2023.
In 2024, we facilitated the international collaboration between organisers of country-level Beyond Growth conferences, sparked by the European Parliament Beyond Growth Conference in 2023.
Via civil society gatherings, webinars, joint letters, joint campaigns and publications, we promoted alternative economic solutions, co-created with a large variety of civil society actors, thus helping to mainstream beyond growth thinking among decision-makers and a wider public.
Lastly, we have nudged over 40 civil society organisations through various alliances and networks, and worked with Friends of the Earth member groups from ten European countries, thus enabling a common understanding of sustainable economies. As a result, many within (and outside) our network have incorporated critical perspectives on economic growth in their daily work and organisational strategies.
Lastly, we have nudged over 40 civil society organisations through various alliances and networks, and worked with Friends of the Earth member groups from ten European countries, thus enabling a common understanding of sustainable economies. As a result, many within (and outside) our network have incorporated critical perspectives on economic growth in their daily work and organisational strategies.
