ΦΙΛΟΙ της ΦΥΣΗΣ | NATUREFRIENDS INTERNATIONAL | Χάρτα για το Κλίμα, 2 NFI-Klimacharta_EN | Page 4

On the one hand, the Climate Charter is a means whereby IFN demands that the
European Union and its member states pursue ambitious climate policies, consistent
with cutting-edge research findings and based on compliance with the 2 0 C standard.
By dint of its historic responsibility and its economic strength, the EU has to take the
lead in the ongoing negotiations on an international post-Kyoto agreement. Taking
the lead would imply to come up with a holistic, cross-sectoral climate programme for
the energy, transport and construction sectors as well as for agriculture and forestry.
On the other hand, IFN sees the Climate Charter as a means of setting ambitious
goals for itself, with a view to pursuing a best-practice course towards cultural change,
in its capacity as one the large European federations that champion sustainable de-
velopment. What we wish to demonstrate is that we are ready to shed old habits and
change familiar structures. Ready to cast a critical eye on our day-to-day activities
and our consumer decision-making, which we still take for granted. To ‘live’ climate
protection is an exciting challenge even for Friends of Nature – it is both a global and
a social challenge to which we want to face up with the concerted power of our his-
toric ideals. Aware of all the hazards inherent in climate change, we should not miss
out on a potential opportunity: A successful response to climate change forged by a
cross-national family of nations would be a prime mover to sustainable development
in all its dimensions.
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