EESC:NAT section newsletter

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June 2024 ■ eesc.europa.eu/nat ■ Our current & future opinions

EDITORIAL BY PETER SCHMIDT

Agenda 2030: a compass for upgrading Europe towards sustainability, peace, democracy and social justice "Building Transformative Policies to Reach the Sustainable Development Goals" was the theme of the conference we co-organised earlier this month with the European Sustainable Development Network and the Belgian Presidency of the EU. The conference could not have been timelier, as it took place on the eve of the European elections and was a great opportunity to discuss the necessary steps to bring about the sustainability transformations. In my opening speech, I identified 5 points to inspire future action by the new EU leadership. 💬Read the editorial

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

EESC event | Upgrading Europe: Building Transformative Policies to Reach the Sustainable Development Goals On 5-6 June 2024, the European Sustainable Development Network (ESDN), in cooperation with the Belgian Federal Institute for Sustainable Development and the EESC held a conference on Building transformative policies to reach the Sustainable Development Goals. The conference focused, amongs others, on good practice cases from national and local governments, the business sector, academia, and science. 🔎All presentations are available online.  📑Read more

MEET OUR MEMBERS

Meet our members | Branko RAVNIK: towards fair and sustainable food systems  "Farming is not only an economic sector, but also a way of life", says Branko Ravnik, rapporteur of the EESC opinion on Towards a Fair Food Supply Chain. The consequences of the globalisation of food systems are certainly a key challenge and the business models based on it do not contribute to building a fair food supply chain. It is important to take action at EU level, because national solutions alone will not be effective enough given the free flow of goods and services.🎤 Read the interview

OUR FEATURED NEWS

The EU's 2040 climate target sets the course to net zero by 2050 In a bid to lead in climate action, the European Commission has recommended a target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040. The EESC supported this move by adopting an opinion on EU climate target for 2040 which outlines steps to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, aligning with scientific consensus to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. 🎬Short video with rapporteur 📑Read more

"EU Youth Test" at the EESC | Apply now! Are you a youth organisation? The EU Youth test is a tool designed to strengthen youth participation and youth mainstreaming in policy-making based on consultation, impact assessment and mitigation measures. At the EESC, this means youth representatives will be invited to actively participate in all study group meetings for a given opinion. Applications are now open!  📑Read more

EESC youth delegate to EU UNFCCC COP Could you be the next youth delegate to EU UNFCCC COP? The next selection process opens in December 2024. Youth delegates commit for a two-year period, engage in strategic and preparatory work before, during, and after UNFCCC COP meetings, receive guidance and assistance from a youth task force, and are reimbursed for the participation in meetings and missions.📑 Read more 💬Linked In post

Environment Council meeting | The EESC reiterates its endorsement of the EU Nature Restoration Law At the upcoming Environment Council meeting of 17 June 2024, Ministers should discuss the adoption of the EU Nature Restoration law. The EESC adopted an opinion on this topic that could provide a useful synthesis and possible basis for a compromise solution to facilitate the debate and conclude the political process at the Environment Council meeting. A formal letter was sent to the Environment Council reiterating the EESC position on the EU Nature Restoration Law. 📑Read more

EESC event | Orientation debate on Biodiversity & Climate: advancing on a sustainable financial architecture   On 21 May 2024 the EESC held an orientation debate to explore the intersectionality between biodiversity conservation and climate finance. The event aimed to identify opportunities for policy change and innovation to simultaneously address biodiversity, climate and social challenges, and contribute to shaping the agenda of the upcoming UN COPs on the topic of biodiversity and climate. 📑Read more 🎬Video recording

ECESP event | How to advance the circular behaviours that really matter On 8 May 2024, the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform held a talk to explore ways to make circularity the rule among most European consumers. The event looked at critical mistakes made when trying to engage people, and at the success factors when it comes to helping European consumers adopt circular patterns of behaviour.  📑Read more 🎬Video recording

EESC Partnership event | Learning by doing: strategies for a multi-level transition towards sustainable right-based food systems On 22 May 2024, the EESC, in partnership with Food First Information and Action Network, organised an event to explore ways in which the EU could play a leading role in promoting food democracy for the transformation of food systems. The event also provided evidence of innovative experiences in local food sustainability and discussed strategies for a multi-level transition to sustainable rights-based food systems.📑Read more 🎬Video recording

ALSO ON THE AGENDA

European environment agency | Responding to climate change impacts on human health in Europe  Climate change is worsening floods, droughts and is reducing water quality, posing an increasing threat to our health, according to a recent report by the European Environment Agency. The report assesses our preparedness for ongoing and future impacts while also inspiring action by showing examples of practical measures implemented across various sectors. Fast-tracking implementation and better coordination of efforts by governments, water authorities and healthcare providers are urgently needed to prevent and reduce health impacts. 📑Read more

European Commission report | The implementation of EU rules against unfair trading practices in the food supply chain The European Commission recently published a report on the implementation of the Directive on unfair trading practices in the food supply chain which aims to strengthen the position of farmers and smaller suppliers. While most Member States have adopted a level of protection that goes beyond the practices banned by the Directive, the report also highlights areas for improvement.📑Read more

European Commission study | New metrics for sustainable prosperity: Options for GDP+3 As an indicator of economic activity, gross domestic product (GDP) has been widely used to guide policymaking though it doesn't reveal anything about the overall well-being of a country’s citizens and presents several shortcomings. This study by the European Commission proposes a GDP+3 framework which seeks to identify new indicators that can complement GDP in three key dimensions of sustainable prosperity: social, environmental and institutional prosperity. 📑Read more

European Committee of the Regions | Rural areas and the geography of discontent A recent study by the European Committee of the Regions identifies electoral patterns in anti-EU voting which demonstrate how rural areas can be central to the success of Eurosceptic parties at both national and subnational level. Overall, the findings underscore the potential repercussions for the EU in neglecting rural areas while validating ongoing initiatives targeting the strengthening of rural areas such as the long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas 2040. 📑Read more

European Climate-Health Cluster | The importance of protecting human health in the EU climate policies As climate change continues to escalate, its detrimental effects on human health are becoming pronounced, demanding urgent transformative actions from European policymakers. This policy brief by the European Climate-Health Cluster underscores the importance of protecting human health in the EU climate change policies and calls for increased engagement of legislators and policymakers to co-create evidence-based policies that effectively safeguard public health in the face of climate challenges. 📑Read more

RECENTLY ADOPTED OPINIONS

At its 588th plenary session, held in May 2024, the EESC adopted the following opinions in the field of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment: Revision of the animal welfare legislation EU climate target for 2040

UPCOMING EVENTS

2 July 2024 | EU Green Week - EESC event An EU Blue Deal for a Water-Resilient Europe

PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS

Have your say! Citizens and businesses can share their views on new EU policies and existing laws. Check out all initatives here.

OTHER LINKS AND NEWSLETTERS

European Environment Agency - news European Commission - DG CLIMA - news European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform - newsletter Eurpean Sustainable Development Network (ESDN) - newsletter European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils (EEAC) - newsletter FAO - newsletter ECOLISE - newsletter Via Campesina - press releases - newsletter Copa Cogeca - press releases The European Network for Rural Development - home - events Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) - latest news Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) - newsletter International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) - updates Meta - the news channel of the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) - news European Parliament - Envi Committee - newsletter EESC - Liaison Group - newsletter

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