Credit: CELL
On Tuesday 24 October 2023, eight Luxembourg scientists went to the Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg’s Parliament) to invite the new deputies (MPs) called to a discussion around the climate crises and biodiversity.
Following the legislative elections, 60 newly elected deputies are required to make important decisions for the Grand Duchy over the next five years. CELL expressed its hope that these decisions will be made taking into account all environmental issues. To “measure” the level of interest of elected officials in this matter, CELL invited scientists specialising in climate and biodiversity to meet the deputies just before their return to parliament.
Eight scientists from different disciplines (climate, biodiversity, agronomy, land use planning) and from different institutions (MNHN, IBLA, Uni.lu, LIST and LISER) responded to CELL's request to offer newly elected deputies a time to discuss the biodiversity and climate crises and their impacts on the decisions they will have to make.
Eighteen MPs agreed to speak with a scientist in private for fifteen minutes. The opportunity for the elected officials to ask all the questions they wanted. The following MPs met with a scientist:
· Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP): Dan Biancalana, Liz Braz, Claire Delcourt and Mars Di Bartolomeo;
· Democratic Party (DP): Carole Hartman, Luc Emering and Gusty Graas;
· Christian Social People's Party (CSV): Nancy Arendt, Felix Eischer, Paul Galles, Marc Lies, Octavie Modert and Marc Spautz;
· The Greens (déi Gréng): Meris Sehovic;
· The Left (déi Lénk): Marc Baum and David Wagner;
· Pirate Party (Piraten): Sven Clement and Ben Polidori.
Other deputies from CSV, LSAP, the Greens, DP and the Pirate Party apologised for not being able to attend despite showing an interest. CELL reported that no MP from the ADR agreed to attend.
CELL expressed its desire to continue to ensure that elected officials are equipped to make scientifically based decisions for future generations and the planet.
