Community solutions and new climate law proposals

There are nearly 1,800 environmental NGOs in Hungary, and many of them are connected to local climate protection initiatives, community programs or awareness-raising projects. One of the roles of the European Climate Pact is to make these initiatives visible and strengthen cooperation.

The European Climate Pact was established at the initiative of the European Commission, which aims to bring climate protection closer to people and support local community action. Thousands of ambassadors, civil society organizations, municipalities and institutions across Europe have joined the Pact. In Hungary, 47 ambassadors and 5 partner organizations are currently actively participating in the initiative.

The program started with a community-building workshop meeting of ambassadors and partners in the morning, and then during the afternoon workshop conference, the participants presented their initiatives and experiences to the general public. The event was opened by Liliána Zúgó, Senior Economic Advisor at the European Commission Representation in Hungary.

The conference focused on topics such as the health effects of climate change and managing hot days, opportunities for conscious energy use in households, the role of environmental education in involving young people, community-based afforestation and tree planting, and experiences of settlement-level climate protection initiatives.

The future of climate policy also received special attention. In his presentation, Csaba Lajtmann, President of the Hungarian Climate Protection Association, Program Manager of the Reflex Environmental Protection Association and Ambassador of the European Climate Pact, spoke about how civil society organizations and professional communities can be involved in the preparation of a new Hungarian climate law.

The issue of climate law has become particularly topical in recent times, after the Constitutional Court required the development of new regulations in order to clarify Hungarian climate policy goals. “Climate protection works well when local communities, local governments and civil society organizations are also active participants in the process. A new climate law must also incorporate this community experience.” – said Csaba Lajtmann. The topic is particularly relevant because the proposed draft has been completed, and can be commented on until March 30.

The European Climate Pact aims to connect people and organizations who want to take action for climate protection in their own communities. The Budapest meeting also showed that local initiatives and community cooperation play a key role in shaping a sustainable future.