After several weeks of violent protests, European farmers have achieved a tactical triumph that does not bode well for the future of environmental policies. In response to the demonstrations, the European Commission has enacted a derogation in the European Union's (EU's) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to set aside 4% of farmland for biodiversity and landscape protection, withdrawn a bill to halve pesticide use, removed a target to reduce agriculture emissions by 30% by 2040, and called for further changes in the CAP to loosen environmental requirements. These retreats reflect a lack of political commitment to policies aimed at greening European agriculture. Appeasing this "greenlash" surely will not help Europe meet its environmental and climate challenges.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.adp1306 | DOI Listing |
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