Near the National Assembly, around forty scientists presented from Monday to Wednesday the challenges for the climate and biodiversity to elected officials who wished. All in about thirty minutes.
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If the organizers of the #MandatClimatBiodiversité operation were aiming for an absolute majority of 289 trained deputies, they too failed to achieve it. In total, 154 deputies, or 26.7% of the 577 elected, took advantage, between Monday 20 and Wednesday 22 June, of the express training in climate and biodiversity issues offered by a group of scientists on the initiative climatologist Christophe Cassou and former deputy Matthieu Orphelin.
“The decisions taken today condition the climate and the environment of tomorrow. The reports that we write are only useful if the decision-makers seize them.”
Christophe Cassou, climatologist
The exercise, organized outside the official framework of the Assembly and 400 m from the Palais Bourbon, was not compulsory. As a result, no “stamp” or certification. The deputies were just invited to stop for about thirty minutes to discuss with the climate experts. Each composing with its constraints of the agenda of the moment.
“The first seeds have been sown and this operation remains a ‘first aid’ training! Deputies and scientists want to sustain the training of parliamentarians”se congratulate the collectiverecalling that “the scientists remain at the disposal of the deputies to organize the continuation of these training courses, the need for which is shared by all”. Asked by franceinfo, Christophe Cassou said to himself “very satisfied with these three days”marked with a “very enriching dialogue also for scientists”. Each elected official left with documents (PDF) summarizing the state of knowledge on global warming and the erosion of biodiversity.
After three days of operation, this overall figure also hides strong disparities between the different political groups. In detail, 80 parliamentarians from Together!, Emmanuel Macron’s coalition, 70 deputies from Nupes took part in this initiative. That is 32.7% of the presidential majority and 52.6% of the elected members of the left alliance. Only one member of the National Rally showed up to discuss with the scientists, while Marine Le Pen had swept away on France Inter the need for such training. Only one elected also came for the Les Républicains party. A miscellaneous right and a miscellaneous left complete the total. The organizers ensure that “many deputies” also expressed interest but were unable to attend the training.