European Green politicians have formally requested an extraordinary summit of EU leaders to confront the growing threat of extreme heat waves across the continent. The call comes alongside the launch of the “Good food for all” European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), which highlights the convergence of climate-driven food insecurity and rising poverty levels.
According to data cited during the initiative’s presentation, approximately 20 percent of the European population—roughly 93 million people—is currently at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Furthermore, 19 million children, or one in four in the EU, face food insecurity. MEPs and experts, including former UN Special Rapporteur Olivier De Schutter, argue that industrial food systems are failing to withstand climate pressures, exacerbating pollution and biodiversity loss.
The ECI demands a fundamental shift in EU policy, proposing the creation of an EU Food Council and legislative protections for small-scale farmers. Proponents argue that food should be treated as a basic human right rather than a mere commodity. Juan José Echanove of the FAO’s Right to Food Unit noted that while no European country currently enshrines the right to food in its constitution, a 2024 Strasbourg Assembly resolution has urged member states to pursue such constitutional recognition.
Green MEP Cristina Guarda emphasized that the current reliance on global supply chains is unsustainable, calling for food sovereignty that allows local communities to manage their own resources. To force an official response from the European Commission, the initiative must collect one million signatures across at least seven member states.