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EU Green Deal at crossroads

Dutch Butterfly Conservation
16-DEC-2024 - Scientists call for immediate action to reaffirm commitment to sustainability. In light of unprecedented environmental challenges and a growing planetary crisis, scientists from across Europe have issued an urgent appeal to EU policymakers to halt the rollback of the European Green Deal and reinstate its transformative ambition.

Over 1900 European scientists, and over 30 scientific organisations, express deep concerns for the future of the Green Deal sparked by recent decisions on key environmental regulations that have been delayed, weakened, or removed altogether. Among these are the withdrawal of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR), amendments to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) removing environmental safeguards, and the delayed European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). These actions are detrimental to the EU’s capacity to meet its commitments to carbon neutrality, biodiversity conservation, and pollution reduction, with critical risk to public health, wellbeing, and food security.

Riglos, SpainRiglos, Spain (Source: Kars Veling)

Critical concerns and implications

  • Deforestation and biodiversity loss 

    The implementation of the EUDR was delayed, undermining the regulation’s ability to tackle deforestation linked to European supply chains. This delay threatens biodiversity and penalises businesses that have invested in compliance.
  • Pesticide regulation 

    The rejection of the SUR has ignored strong scientific evidence and public support for EU-wide pesticide reduction targets. This setback jeopardises efforts to address the growing prevalence of agrochemicals harmful to human health and ecosystems.
  • Agricultural Policy 

    CAP reforms have weakened environmental standards, prioritising short-term productivity over long-term sustainability, potentially exacerbating soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Renewable Energy Expansion 

    While renewable energy is critical, unregulated expansion risks habitat destruction and soil degradation, contradicting EU biodiversity goals and the 'no-net land take' strategy by 2050.

Bükk mountains, HungaryBükk mountains, Hungary (Source: Kars Veling)

Shift in Priorities

The scientists expressed deep concern over a shift in the EU’s policy priorities to competitiveness and economic growth at the expense of sustainability. This reorientation, reflected in the Commission’s 100-day strategy, disregards planetary boundaries and the interconnectedness of environmental health, human well-being, and economic resilience.

Call to Action

The letter outlines several urgent steps to realign the EU with its Green Deal objectives:

  1. Revoking Recent Amendments 

    Reconsider recent contested decisions such as on the CAP, the delayed implementation of the EUDR and the protection status of the wolves, and resist further attempts to water down or weaken existing environmental regulations
  2. Work for the full implementation of existing legislation and regulation 

    With a commitment to evidence-based decision-making and stakeholder consultation.
  3. Set an ambitious Environmental Agenda 

    Developing a post-election strategy aligned with planetary boundaries and the EU’s global commitments to climate and biodiversity goals, especially for the CAP reform.
  4. Reinstating the SUR 

    Reintroducing the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation to uphold science-based pesticide reduction targets.
  5. Science-Policy Collaboration 

    Strengthening the science-policy interface, and using those interfaces enacted by the European Commission exactly for the purpose of ensuring timely, informed decisions and evidence-based governance.

More information

Text and photo’s: Kars Veling, Dutch Butterfly Conservation, based on press release