Green Wave

It's almost nine months since the start of Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Rarely mentioned in coverage or analysis of the war is the ecological impact of it and how this is playing out today in Ukraine, one of the most heavily industrialised and polluted areas in the world. In this episode, we examine how war affects nature and public health in Ukraine for generations to come, and what the internati...

COP27 has just kicked off!  Despite having official invitations to international climate summits, many young Global South organisers find their visa applications to European countries rejected, sometimes multiples times in a row. This episode looks at this under-explored exclusion which, if left unaddressed, undermines the legitimacy of international climate discussions.    Written by Serag Heiba....

Welcome back! In this episode, we explore the concepts of citizenship and of nation states - two norms which are rarely questioned in Europe today - and how they are evolving in today's world. What do these shifts mean for the millions of people living and working abroad, especially in an era of climate breakdown, and how we can make sure the shift is for better and not worse? Written by Aleksandr...

On 11 September, Sweden went to the polls to elect a new government. In this episode, we look into what the results might mean for the country, how Swedish politics has gradually shifted to the right and what happens next. Written by Ann-Cathrine Jungar Read by Julia Lagoutte. Text version: www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/swedish-elections-and-the-mainstreaming-of-the-far-right/ Follow us on socials:...

In this episode, Luiza Bialasiewicz explains why thinking pandemic geopolitics through the lens of 'health sovereignty' ignores the geographies of vulnerability that connect us all. Published in 29 November 2021 Written by Luiza Bialasiewicz. Read by Julia Lagoutte. Text version: www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/the-unhealthy-geopolitics-of-a-sovereign-europe/  Follow us on socials: @greeneujournal. Gr...

Welcome back! This summer has shown - once again - that extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of the climate crisis. In this episode, journalist Clare Taylor explores what's at stake and what we can do about it. Written by Clare Taylor. Read by Julia Lagoutte. Text version: https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/adapt-or-else...

In this episode, we talk all about coal, oil, and gas. When it comes to keeping fossil fuels in the ground, COPs will only get us so far. Peter Newell outlines an alternative approach: A Fossil Fuel Non-Profileration Treaty.  Written by Peter Newell. Read by Julia Lagoutte. Text version: https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/the-road-to-a-fossil-fuel-non-proliferation-treaty  This article is from ou...

We are back. In this episode, we explore how ecology could expand the EU's horizons through the Green Deal. For the European Union, the energy transition offers an economic, social and strategic direction for decades to come. Written by Lucile Schmid. Read by Seden Anlar. Edited by Seden Anlar. Text version: https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/will-ecology-expand-the-eus-horizons/  This article is...

Despite the warnings, the invasion of Ukraine took the world by surprise. As Putin continues his brutal invasion of #Ukraine , journalist Richard Robert takes a much-needed look at how the long history of Russian imperialism is driving and shaping Putin’s war today.  Written by Richard Robert. Read by Julia Lagoutte. Text version: https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/the-return-of-the-brezhnev-doct...

We are back! In the first episode of the new year, we'll be going to Romania where over the past decades, there have been successive waves of protests that have had a defining impact on the country's recent history. So, we look at the path that has led Romania to the politics it has today and where the country's two main Green parties stand. Enjoy! Written by Raluca Besliu. Read by Julia Lagoutte....

This week, we tell the story of how, for one Italian town, democracy is an ongoing struggle for environmental justice and self-determination. A story of democratic exclusion that began with the building of a petrochemical plant on the edge of the town by state-run chemical giant EniChem in the early 1970s. Hear more about the deep scars that have been left on the land and the town's inhabitants by...

In this episode, we are going to Finland. For over a century, Finland has pioneered women’s representation in politics. But discrimination still casts a long shadow over the country. What can Finland, possibly the most gender-equal country in the world but one that still has many problems, teach us about the long journey from representation to equality? Written by Silja Kudel. Read by Gail Rego. T...

This week, we are going to the UK! The UK government’s handling of Brexit and the health crisis has been undeniably chaotic and venal. In a bid to distract the public and shore up its own power, the government has sought to exploit cultural issues to the detriment of democratic rights and norms, putting already vulnerable groups further at risk.   Green peer Natalie Bennett explains how this has l...

This week, we are going to Italy. In February, Mario Draghi, got sworn-in as Italy's next prime minister and formed a coalition government to end months of political stalemate. However, this coalition doesn't have an easy brief. In this episode, journalist Luca Misculin lays out the challenges that Draghi is likely to face. Written by Luca Misculin. Read by Julia Lagoutte. Text version: https://ww...

2021 is Germany's "super election year"! The end of Merkel era, the rise of the Greens, the fallout from the pandemic. Roderick Kefferputz analyses the year ahead in German politics and the latest on the prospects of the German Greens in 2021. Written by Roderick Kefferpütz. Read by Julia Lagoutte. Text version: www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/germanys-year-of-elections-has-the-pandemic-scuppered-the-...

This week, we talk migration and essential work. Migration has been a dividing line in politics in recent years. But the fact remains that society would not function without the contributions of people from other countries. In this episode, we hear from migrant workers in Greece, Iran, and South Africa on their experiences of #COVID19. Written by Cláudia Santos, Felix Kwabena, Marula Tsagkari. Rea...

The pandemic has exposed many unresolved challenges for older members of society – social care, the digital divide, loneliness - sparking a conversation about ageing societies that is often deferred. In this episode, Christa Möller-Metzger from the European Network of Green Seniors argues it's time for a new generational compromise built around connection, participation, and solidarity and to crea...

What kind of economy do we want? The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that some economic sectors are more important than others for meeting our basic needs and making a “good life” possible. Alexandra Strickner, Andreas Novy, Leonhard Plank, and Richard Bärnthaler explores new ways of seeing the economy, work, and contribution. Written by Alexandra Strickner, Andreas Novy, Leonhard Plank, and Richard B...

Since the pandemic began, different countries have taken different approaches to the Covid19 crisis. In the last episode of this year, sociologist Jean De Munck maps the different government responses to the health crisis and reveals which system of government is key for a green future. Written by Jean De Munck. Read by Julia Lagoutte. Text version: https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/three-respon...

In this episode, Peter Newell asks: Has the time arrived for a global green politics? As the debate continues over ideas and visions about what the post-pandemic world could and should look like, it is time for Greens to make the case for a global green politics that lays out a real alternative to current ways of thinking about the economy, security, international development, and sustainability....

Some said the pandemic had one upside: a chance for the environment to recover. However, such assumptions may be severely misguided. In this episode, Camille Nedelec debunks this myth and explores the ripple effects of the pandemic on plastic production and recycling. Produced by the Green European Journal (www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu). Written by Camille Nedelec. Read by Julia Lagoutte. Text Vers...

This week, we're all about important questions! - How can people believe that the “climate fight” will be won if, at the national level, climate action is only paid lip service? - What kind of state is needed for a successful ecological transition? - What would a Green state look like? All explained in this episode. Produced by the Green European Journal (www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu). Written by L...

This week, we're going to France. On June 28, the Greens of Europe Ecologie-Les Verts (EELV) confirmed their role as change makers in French politics as the #GreenWave swept through the country in the second round of the local elections. Green-led coalitions now govern several key cities including Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Besançon, Tours, and Poitiers. How was this made possible? - E...

Let's talk about #COVID19 and the economy! As a response to the pandemic, many governments have introduced short-term cash transfers for self-employed and precarious workers. But do these policies bring long-term resilience and security? The argument for a permanent, universal basic income grows stronger. Produced by the Green European Journal (www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu). Written by Jamie Cooke...

This episode is all about rebellion! Extinction Rebellion erupted in 2018 in the UK. It denounces the political inertia and obfuscation of “truth” that permeate climate change debates. Since then, XR has spread like wildfire and now gathers thousands of activists worldwide. In this episode, Louise Knops explores how the movement channels affect at a pivotal moment in which climate has become a con...