Amidst Farmers’ Protests, EU Poised to Enact Major Plan to Counter Climate Change

EU Prepares Major Climate Change Plan in Midst of Farmers’ Protests

March 2, 2024 TruthUSA

The new Nature Restoration law entails preventing carbon emissions from soils and rewetting previously drained peatlands.

The European Union is on the verge of approving a significant plan to combat climate change and enhance nature protection in the 27-nation bloc, following objections from farmers and opposition from the largest party in parliament.

Based on the fact that 80 percent of European habitats are in poor condition, the EU Nature Restoration law mandates that EU member countries must restore a minimum of 30 percent of their habitats in poor condition by 2030, 60 percent by 2040, and 90 percent by 2050, as stated in a statement.

According to the statement, “Once in a good condition, EU countries shall ensure an area does not significantly deteriorate.”

The primary goals of the new law include ecosystem restoration, biodiversity preservation, climate change mitigation, enhancement of food security, and compliance with the Union’s international commitments, as outlined in the adopted text of the Nature Restoration law.

The European Parliament approved the new nature restoration law on Tuesday with 329 votes in favor, 275 against, and 24 abstentions.

For the law to take effect, it must be ratified by the Council, another EU legislative body.

Carbon Retention in Soils

The law emphasizes the importance of natural carbon stocks and sinks in combating the climate crisis.

According to the EU’s environmental agency, EU soils are losing carbon through CO2 emissions, which could hinder the EU’s climate goals if not reversed.

A significant portion of carbon emissions from soil stems from land cultivation and drainage, according to the agency. However, enhancing carbon sequestration in soil or minimizing its loss may have adverse effects on biodiversity and food production, the agency added.

Utilization of Cropland

High-diversity landscape features on agricultural land will aid in biodiversity restoration within the Union, as outlined in the law. These features include various elements such as land lying fallow, buffer strips, trees, and water bodies.

To qualify as “high-diversity landscape features” under the new law, these elements must not be used for farming activities like grazing livestock, and should not receive fertilizer or pesticide treatments, except under specific conditions.

The legislation stated, “Securing biodiverse ecosystems and combating climate change are inherently connected.”

Fabian Frucht, a land manager of the Succow Stiftung foundation, walks on a marsh of an approximately 300 hectares rewetted portion of the Sernitzmoor peatland near Greiffenberg, Germany, on May 31, 2023. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Restoring drained peatlands, previously used for farming, is one of the most cost-effective methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, the statement noted.

Hence, the law mandates EU countries to restore, primarily through rewetting, at least 30 percent of drained peatlands by 2030, 40 percent by 2040, and 50 percent by 2050. Rewetting will be discretionary for farmers and private landowners, according to the statement.

Under the law provisions, a limited number of plants for industrial use as biomass or fodder, and a few food plants, can grow on rewetted croplands.

The law states, “The most significant climate benefits are created by restoring and rewetting cropland followed by the restoration of intensive grassland.”

The current EU agricultural law requires farmers receiving Union subsidies to keep 4 percent of their arable land fallow or unproductive.

Amidst widespread protests by farmers in Europe during the winter against the restrictive EU climate change measures, rising costs, and unfair overseas competition, the European Commission proposed a plan to relax this rule.

The rule is intended to be temporarily replaced for one year by a rule which requires farmers to allocate 7 percent of their land to cultivating nitrogen-fixing crops without pesticides, or plants for fodder or green manure that grow between main crops, as per a statement by the commission.

The law introduces “an emergency brake, as requested by Parliament,” allowing for the suspension of agricultural provisions in exceptional situations, such as insufficient food production for the EU due to severe land reduction for farming, as clarified by the Parliament in the statement.

EU Parliamentarians on Nature Restoration Law

Following the vote, Portuguese Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and the rapporteur for the legislation, César Luena, stated in the statement: “Today is an important day for Europe, as we move from protecting and conserving nature to restoring it.” Mr. Luena expressed gratitude to scientists and youths for their contributions.

The European People’s Party (Christian Democrats), the largest political group in the European Parliament, has been a strong supporter of the farming community.

Chairman of the center-right European People Party group (EPP) Manfred Weber addresses a joint press conference during the EPP Groups Bureau meeting in Berlin, on Sept. 9, 2021. — Chairman of the center-right European People Party group (EPP) Manfred Weber addresses a press conference during the EPP Groups Bureau meeting in Berlin, on Sept. 9, 2021.

Mr. Weber called for a pause on environmental actions to safeguard economic competitiveness.

Romanian MEP Cristian Terheş, a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists group, expressed his opposition to the law, citing its potential impact on farmers and food security in rural regions.

Mr. Terheş argued that the law could lead to agriculture destruction, food shortages, and increased prices, emphasizing that the focus should instead be on enhancing biodiversity and saving forests.

Irish MEP Chris MacManus, a member of The Left group, highlighted the need to reverse the loss of flora and fauna while addressing farmers’ concerns.

He urged the Irish government and the EU to ensure voluntary rewetting, protect family farmers’ livelihoods, involve stakeholders in decision-making, and provide financial incentives rather than penalties.

Belgian MEP Philippe Lambert, co-president of the Greens group, acknowledged the imperfections of the law but viewed it as a foundation for future improvement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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