The President of Luxembourg’s Sustainability Council, Mike Poiré, stated that the institution is no longer suited to current challenges and called for comprehensive reforms to strengthen its role. Speaking in an interview on Tuesday morning, Poiré – who has chaired the Council since last year and also serves as Mayor of Mertzig – emphasised that the Conseil supérieur pour le développement durable (as it is officially called) should be granted greater authority and more resources to address the complex issues at stake.
Poiré highlighted that sustainability encompasses three interdependent pillars: environment, economy, and social affairs. He argued that the Council needs more influence and means to ensure coordinated action across these areas.
Established twenty-two years ago, the Sustainability Council was initially set up hastily – a legacy which, according to Poiré, is still felt today. The Council’s main function is to advise the government. Its fifteen members, all volunteers, are nominated by the Government Council. However, Poiré criticised the current structure, saying: "We lack resources, serve in this role on the side, and our opinions do not carry sufficient weight."
Looking to the future, Poiré expressed a desire for the Council to expand its focus on public engagement – raising awareness and fostering open, courageous debate with citizens, especially young people, rather than simply issuing opinions that may go unread. He stressed that the intention is not to lecture or dictate solutions, but rather to explain issues and highlight the fundamental importance of preserving the planet for all.
Poiré also addressed Luxembourg’s high resource consumption, noting that the country’s Overshoot Day – which marks when resource demand exceeds what the planet can regenerate in a year – now falls as early as mid-February. He described this as "particularly stark", but cautioned against stigmatising individuals. "Generally, we have it too good. We consume too much; we are 'junkies' in this respect," Poiré observed, adding that this must be discussed openly, but without assigning blame. He insisted that only collective action can lead to improvement.
