The national assembly votes this Tuesday the text on the preservation of the environment.
Invited Monday of the "Talk Le Figaro", the rapporteur of the bill recalled the will of the President of the Republic, on the basis of a proposal of the Citizen's Convention for the climate
, "to include in Article 1 of the Constitution, guaranteeing the preservation of the environment, biodiversity and the fight against climate change
”.
The objective is clear, to ensure that these principles "
irrigate all national and local public action, in the years to come"
, insisted Pieyre-Alexandre Anglade, and "
to ensure that France becomes the first European country to include the fight against climate change in its fundamental law ”
.
Read also: The referendum on the climate perceived as a political process
However, this provision already appears in the environmental charter adopted in 2004 which is part of the constitutional block.
So why include this notion in the fundamental law?
“
The 2004 environmental charter is a political awakening to the notion of preserving the environment and biodiversity
”, underlines Anglade, but it “
makes no reference to the fight against climate change
” .
One word, however, is debated: the verb “
guarantee
”.
Voices are being raised against what could become an obligation of result, a constraint, especially in the economic field.
The Council of State itself underlined that this verb
“to guarantee”
carried consequences, a “
quasi-obligation of result
”, adds Anglade.
"
We assume a verb of action
,
which commits us
", he assures, estimating that "
given the environmental climatic situation of the country and of the whole planet, there is a duty of action
".
On this occasion, the deputy underlined that the Head of State was opposed to the said sentence being included in the preamble of the Constitution, "
so that environmental law does not take precedence over other values. constitutional
”.
Beyond the semantic debates, "
what is important in the end is to include in our Constitution this principle of the fight against climate change, which is not there,
" he says.
"
This climate emergency does not belong to EELV
", he underlines, considering that this vote must go beyond partisan divisions.
There is no doubt for him: the majority is united behind this proposal and will vote it "
very widely
".
To read also: Pieyre-Alexandre Anglade: "The referendum on the climate does not aim to sanction the economic world"
The President of the Republic has planned a referendum, "
a necessary tool that our country needs to discuss the environment
", insists the deputy.
However, to make this possible, the two Chambers must vote in a similar way.
"
I have confidence in the Senate to join the majority in this fight
", launches the elected official.
He wants to believe that the senators, "
firmly anchored on the ground, noting the ravages of climate change
,
advent that there is urgency to act
.
(…) We must put all our strength into the discussion with the Senate
”.
