Serviços básicos universais: uma vida mais verde e justa para todos

The text advocates for 'universal basic services'—publicly funded, sustainable access to essentials like transport, housing, and childcare—as a means to ensure a socially just ecological transition in Europe. It argues that current EU climate policies, such as the European Green Deal, are too reliant on market mechanisms and regulation, which can be regressive and disproportionately affect low-income households. The author contends that shifting from a GDP-centered growth model to one based on 'sufficiency' and collective action can reduce carbon intensity and combat inequality. To achieve this, the document calls for the removal of restrictive EU budgetary rules, the taxation of excess corporate profits and wealth, and a move away from using high interest rates to combat inflation, which the author claims hinders green investment.

• Current EU climate policies, including the European Green Deal, are criticized for lacking a strong social dimension and relying on market-based regulations that risk being regressive, as they make polluting activities more expensive without providing affordable green alternatives for all.
• Universal basic services are defined as a policy program aimed at meeting the basic needs of all people—such as housing, nutritious food, healthcare, and transport—within environmental limits through collective action and public investment.
• The document asserts that development focused on basic needs and well-being is less carbon-intensive than growth centered on GDP, citing a 'high level of agreement' among IPCC scientists.
• Market-led climate policies disproportionately impact low-income families; for instance, the expansion of emission trading systems to transport and home heating will affect low- and middle-income households more than the wealthy.
• The use of high interest rates by central banks to fight inflation is argued to be counterproductive for the energy transition, as it increases the cost of investing in renewables, electric transport, and social housing renovations.
• Current EU budgetary rules are described as a major obstacle to the green transition; a New Economics Foundation analysis suggests only four EU Member States could meet necessary Paris Agreement investments under existing spending constraints.
• Wealth taxes and frequent flyer levies are proposed as funding mechanisms for public investment, with a Greens/EFA group study estimating a wealth tax could generate 213 billion euros annually for EU Member States.

APA

Mang, A. C. S. (2024). Serviços básicos universais: uma vida mais verde e justa para todos. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/servicos-basicos-universais-uma-vida-mais-verde-e-justa-para-todos/

Chicago

Mang, Anna Coote, Sebastian. Serviços básicos universais: uma vida mais verde e justa para todos. Green European Journal, 2024. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/servicos-basicos-universais-uma-vida-mais-verde-e-justa-para-todos/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Mang |first1=Anna Coote, Sebastian |title=Serviços básicos universais: uma vida mais verde e justa para todos |publisher=Green European Journal |date=23 May 2024 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/servicos-basicos-universais-uma-vida-mais-verde-e-justa-para-todos/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{mang2024servios, author = {Mang, Anna Coote, Sebastian}, title = {{Serviços básicos universais: uma vida mais verde e justa para todos}}, publisher = {Green European Journal}, year = {2024}, month = may, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/servicos-basicos-universais-uma-vida-mais-verde-e-justa-para-todos/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }