ES

At a time of climate, economic, and energy emergency, the European Union and governments are proposing energy-saving measures for the coming months, both at public and private levels.

Meanwhile, cities are starting to prepare their Christmas lights. If we are in such a serious energy and economic crisis, how can we continue to allow this unnecessary display? Does it make sense to ask for a daily effort from all citizens and waste the emissions and energy of millions of lights for weeks or even months? Is such a volume of expenditure justifiable by appealing to the increase in economic activity? Regulate the duration and efficiency of Christmas lighting in order to be able to guarantee the energy reserve to cover the basic needs of the population during the coming winter.

I understand the concern about the economic benefits of the festive season for some companies, but let us not be fooled: there are alternatives. The number of hours of lighting can be limited, reducing the economic impact on businesses and avoiding a waste of energy that we simply cannot afford. Just as shop window lighting or the temperature of public buildings are being regulated, why is no one daring to regulate Christmas lighting?

In Germany, environmental groups have recommended doing without lights in order to save energy. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower will switch off its lights one hour earlier than usual. Some cities in Austria and Switzerland have also considered reducing lighting, and environmentalists insist, even before the war in Ukraine, that we need to drastically reduce the wasteful use of Christmas lights. All these initiatives are very positive, but unfortunately, most of them are ad hoc and depend on the will of local governments. We need the EU to keep pressure on governments to keep Christmas lighting to a minimum. If we have to save money and energy, let it be in Christmas lights and not by further impoverishing families in this difficult winter ahead.

The fact that we have to regulate the temperature in our homes and pay stratospheric bills because of the energy crisis while Christmas lighting is not cut back seems to me to be nonsense, so we ask the European Union to impose limits on member countries, especially in big cities.

Let's do it for ourselves, but above all for future generations. Let's leave as small a footprint as possible and start cutting back on the truly dispensable. Many homes in Europe are currently without electricity supply, especially in suburban areas. People and the planet we depend on must come first. No planet, no life. Sign and share this petition to get the EU and the Spanish government to regulate Christmas lights. If there are many of us, we will surely succeed.