EU agriculture ministers crack open door to climate action

Posted on May, 14 2019

But they must beware of a headlong rush into biomass

Brussels, Belgium - 14 May 2019

EU agriculture ministers appeared to begin to recognise the urgency of climate action, and the crucial role farming has to play, as they considered the EU’s draft long-term climate strategy today. While many ministers highlighted the difficulties in cutting emissions in agriculture, there was the beginnings of a discussion on how to make it happen.

Despite this, there were alarming signs that there could be a headlong rush into biomass. Using land for biofuel or energy crops for example or harvesting more wood for fuel will increase emissions even compared to fossil fuels - but there are no restrictions in the EU’s revised Renewable Energy Directive to stop that happening.

Imke Lübbeke, Head of Climate and Energy at WWF European Policy Office said:
“Farming can play a crucial role in helping the EU reach net zero emissions by 2040, which is what we need to be in line with the Paris Agreement. It is splendid that agriculture ministers today finally seemed to be getting the message on climate change. However, the sector needs to move faster to make the most of the contribution land and soil can add in terms of carbon absorption, and protect farmers and foresters from the worst of climate damage. On the other side using biomass energy use must be limited - with no meaningful sustainability criteria in the Renewable Energy Directive that’s likely to make things worse not better.”

Jabier Ruiz, Senior Policy Officer for Agriculture at WWF European Policy Office said:
“After the debate today, there is little doubt that EU’s farming sector could become a lead actor in the fight against climate change, but Agriculture Ministers have not fully realised they have a responsibility to make this happen. With the right political will, the Common Agricultural Policy post-2020 could be shifted away from the current payments system and offer good incentives for farmers engaging in this transition towards climate-friendly farming.”

There is a chance now to improve the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the climate and nature as it undergoes the ‘reform’ process. Unfortunately, a crucial piece of evidence for this reform - an assessment of CAP’s impact on the climate - has still not been published by the European Commission, even though it was submitted last year. WWF therefore filed a request for the assessment on 3 May 2019. The European Commission has 8 working days left to reply.

Ministers were discussing the EU’s draft long-term climate strategy ‘A clean planet for all’ at an afternoon session of their Council today. Their views will be fed into the European Council discussion in June, along with those from other Council formations, with many Member States pushing for EU leaders to then endorse the Commission’s proposed net zero 2050 goal.

Contact:

Imke Luebbeke, Head, EU Climate and Energy Policy
iluebbeke@wwf.eu +32 2 743 88 18

Jabier Ruiz Mirazo, Senior Policy Officer, Agriculture & Food
jruiz@wwf.eu +32 470 66 81 91

Sarah Azau, Senior Communications Officer,
sazau@wwf.eu +32 473 573 137

Since 2007, the WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme has been working intensively on eutrophication issues, with a particular focus on agriculture’s impacts on the Baltic Sea. WWF is committed to reducing the threat of eutrophication to the Baltic Ecosystem and is therefore working to dramatically reduce the inputs of both phosphorus and nitrogen to the sea with a specific focus on promoting the application of environmentally friendly farming practices in order to reduce nutrient runoff to the Baltic Sea.