The president of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, critically assessed the European Union's action on climate policy, stressing that Brussels has made a crucial mistake, communicating climate change in a way that causes guilt alternatively of motivating action. His message was during the Campus of the Future, where he expressed his position on the EU climate strategy and policy towards Ukraine.
EU and Climate: An Abstract Communication Problem
Rafał Trzaskowski, during a panel in Kortów, Olsztyn, stated that the European Union had mistakenly focused on abstract climate concepts that do not appeal to average people. Instead, in his opinion, an approach based on concrete examples that straight relate to the everyday lives of citizens is needed. "We are able to convince the majority by talking about circumstantial things," Trzaskowski said.
One example he gave is investing in renewable energy sources as a way to become independent of Russian natural materials and reduce energy costs. He stressed that talking about financial benefits and energy safety could be more effective than calling for guilt in the context of climate change.
Conflicts in EU Agricultural Policy
Trzaskowski pointed out the contradictions in the policy of the European Union which hit farmers. In his view, it is unfair and inconsistent to require European farmers to comply with strict production standards while importing grain from Ukraine which does not gotta meet the same standards. This criticism reflects the increasing tensions between the various interests of EU policy.
Potential Polish Leadership in the EU
In the context of leadership in the European Union, Trzaskowski stressed that this was not about the dominance of 1 country, but about the joint action of all associate States. He pointed out that the Donald Tusk government plays a key function in building European defence potential, which is peculiarly crucial in the context of support for Ukraine.
Criticism of the Hungarian Government
The president of Warsaw powerfully criticized Viktor Orban, accusing him of a cynical approach to politics and the demolition of democracy in Hungary. Trzaskowski pointed out that Poland is cooperating with the Hungarian local government opposition to Orban, trying to keep good relations with Hungary, but not with their government. Orban's attitude, according to Trzaskovsky, is increasingly repulsive, which is simply a threat to European solidarity.
Change Narration as Key to Climate Policy Success
Rafał Trzaskowski clearly emphasises that an effective climate policy must be based on a communicative that is close to people's everyday problems, not on causing guilt. His criticism points to the request to rethink the EU communication strategy in order to gain greater support for green actions and to manage climate challenges more effectively.
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President of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski Ostro on EU Climate Policy: “She made a mistake”
