Euphoria Election Year Wrap-Up with Lena Schilling (Young MEP Greens/EFA)
Dec 23, 2024
Lena Schilling, the youngest Member of the European Parliament and a former climate movement spokesperson, shares her inspiring journey from activism to politics. She discusses the weight of youth responsibility in decision-making, the challenges of bridging generational gaps, and the impact of key votes. Lena also highlights the struggle for human rights at COP29 and urges for transformative climate policies focused on sustainability. Her passion for engaging the younger generation in political discourse lays a hopeful vision for the future of the European Union.
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From Street Protest To Parliament
- Lena Schilling began in Fridays for Future and led a year-long occupation of a highway construction site in Austria.
- That protest contributed to the government cancelling the highway and led to her being asked to run as the Greens' lead candidate.
Youth Representation Is Complex
- Lena feels responsibility to be a reachable voice for youth despite the diversity of young opinions.
- She notes generational gaps with colleagues who grew up in very different realities and contexts.
Early Term Is About Power, Not Laws
- The first six months of a legislature focus on power and positioning rather than policy-making.
- That means early debates decide who will influence future climate and social policies more than passing new laws now.