The European Commission has, in response to widespread protests by farmers across Europe, removed the requirements of reducing methane, nitrogen, and other gas emissions associated with farming by 30% between 2015 and 2040 from its ambitious 2040 climate roadmap, as reported by the Financial Times on February 6. The roadmap outlines measures to achieve a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040 on 1990 levels. A previous draft of the roadmap identified agricultural activities, responsible for 10% of the EU’s emissions, as one of the core areas for achieving the 2040 GHG reduction targets. In contrast, the revised plan adopts a more positive perspective on agriculture, highlighting the sector’s role in the EU’s “food sovereignty.” Other wordings deleted in the revised roadmap include recommendations for citizens to consume less meat to reduce emissions and a push to end fossil fuel subsidies.

The Commission proposed a regulation in 2022 to slash pesticide use by 50% by 2030, as a cornerstone of the EU’s sustainable food plan. However, following large-scale protests against green policies in many European countries in recent weeks, the lawmaker had to back down on the proposal to curtail pesticide use. Protesters expressed worries about falling crop yields and doubts over the ability of farmers to find alternatives, slamming urban policymakers’ ignoring of rural areas. Despite the retreat, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revealed that a more mature proposal on pesticides with more stakeholder involvement may be introduced in the future, insisting that the discussion over reducing the use of the chemicals will continue.

Sources:

https://www.ft.com/content/00b344d9-8ff9-4a71-ae31-a76daecb96ab

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-06/eu-withdraws-push-to-halve-pesticide-use-after-farmer-protests

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-21/eu-aims-to-require-halving-pesticide-use-under-green-food-plan

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-eases-farming-demands-in-2040-climate-proposal/