NAT section newsletter

 

February 2025 ■ eesc.europa.eu/nat ■ Our current & future opinions

EDITORIAL BY PETER SCHMIDT

We need to accelerate action on the SDGs -sustainable food systems are key The latest SDSN's Europe Sustainable Development Report and the EESC study on SDG2 highlight that EU progress on the implementation of the SDGs is slowing down, while inequalities are rising. Progress on SDG 2 - zero hunger - is especially off-track. Yet, sustainable food systems are a crucial driver for the implementation of the SDGs. What we need are ambitious mechanisms to safeguard the livelihoods of farmers, effective multistakeholder engagement and concerted international action. The costs of inaction are growing. We must intensify our efforts to fight climate change and inequalities. 💬Read the editorial

MEET OUR MEMBERS

Meet our members | Cillian LOHAN: Bringing diverse views together, we can have a tangible impact Success stories like the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform and the Youth Delegate to COP have stemmed from EESC opinions, reinforcing the notion that our work can have tangible impact. Being able to meet with the youth sector and realising we are now their more trusted institutional partner is surely something to be proud of. In this interview, NAT Vice-President Cillian Lohan talks about success factors and how compromise that leads to strong content is the EESC's added value. 💬 Read the interview

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

EU Organic awards 2025 | Applications open today! The fourth edition of the EU Organic Awards was launched today! The EU organic awards are a joint initiative by the European Commission, the EESC, the CoR, COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe. These awards aim to recognise excellence throughout the organic value chain, rewarding the best and most innovative actors in EU organic production. As in previous years, the EESC is responsible for the three award categories of food processing SMEs, food retailers and restaurants/food services. 📄Read more

Study | Sustainable food systems as a driver for the implementation of the SDGs: taking stock of SDG 2 and future perspectives A new study prepared for the EESC highlights that SDG2 (zero hunger) is particularly off-track in Europe and globally and many of its targets might not be achieved by 2030. The study makes four overarching recommendations and calls, above all, for more effective multistakeholder engagement mechanisms at EU and member states' level to define long-term pathways and specific policies to advance the sustainability of agri-food systems in Europe. The study was launched and debated at the last NAT section meeting. 🎬Video recap 📰Read more 📂Download study

Diandra NÍ BHUACHALLA | An end of mandate interview with our youth delegate to COP Diandra Ní Bhuachalla has been the EESC's youth delegate to COP for the mandate 2023-2024. She participated in UNFCCC COP28 and COP29 as an active member of the EESC's delegation and contributed to the work of the EESC's Ad Hoc Group on COP. With her mandate coming to an end, Diandra shared with us some highlights from her involvement in the programme, including the overall feel, the knowledge she acquired and the connections she made along the way. 💬 Read the interview

OUR FEATURED NEWS

Plenary debate | People-centered climate and biodiversity action for a just and sustainable transition  At the January EESC plenary session, leading voices from policymaking, academia, and civil society convened to discuss the urgent need for a fair and inclusive approach to climate and biodiversity action. As the EU accelerates its push towards climate neutrality, the EESC has issued a clarion call for a coordinated and inclusive transition. The panel included prominent experts who explored the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, focusing on the principles of equity and resilience. 📄Read more

EU Green Week 2025 | Circular solutions for a competitive EU This year’s EU Green Week will explore how to put circularity at the centre of our economic transition.  During the policy discussions of 3-4 June, expert speakers will discuss how a circular use of resources can make the EU more competitive, resilient, and sustainable. On 5 June, an event organised in partnership with the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform and the European Circular Cities and Regions Initiative will see industry leaders, communities and other stakeholders share ideas and inspire action.📄Read more

European Rural Parliament: mid-term event co-organised with the EESC On 30 January 2025, the EESC co-hosted the European Rural Parliament (ERP) Mid-Term event in Brussels. The event featured National and Regional Rural Parliament recommendations and provided a space for meaningful dialogue between civil society organisations and EU decision-makers, including the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, on rural challenges and opportunities within the current Multiannual Financial Framework and beyond. 🎬Video recording

EESC debate | Agenda 2030 on sustainable development  On 29 January 2025, the EESC hosted a high-level debate on the critical role played by sustainable food systems in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advancing Agenda 2030. The debate assessed the current progress and challenges while also seeing the launch of this year's Europe Sustainable Development Report and its accompanying study on Sustainable food systems as a driver for the implementation of the SDGs.🎬Video recording

EESC public hearing | Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies  On 24 January 2025, the EESC held a public hearing on phasing out fossil fuel subsidies while ensuring European competitiveness, a just transition and mitigating the cost-of-living crisis. The event featured proposals on how to reform the current framework, including a timeline for the phase-out, the redirection of public budget savings to decarbonisation, clean energy production and infrastructure, and ways to support vulnerable enterprises and households. 🎬Video recording

EESC public hearing | Civil society's vision for a European Oceans Pact  On 21 January 2025, the EESC held a public hearing to gather input from civil society organisations for the development of a strategic and comprehensive approach to the ocean. The aim of the event was to identify deliverables to support healthy oceans, resilient coastal areas, and a sustainable blue economy while also exploring the economic and social challenges of different economic sectors and how to ensure resilient and productive oceans. 🎬Video recording

ALSO ON THE AGENDA

SDSN | Europe Sustainable Development report The Europe Sustainable Development Report 2025 (ESDR), published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), highlights a significant slowdown in Europe’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), raising concerns about its ability to meet the 2030 targets. One of the most pressing issues in the report is SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). Despite policies aimed at improving food security and sustainability, food and land system challenges persist across Europe.📄Read more

World Economic Forum | The Global Risks Report 2025 Every year the Global Risks Report asks more than 900 experts for their opinion on the most serious risks we face. According to the report, the escalating use of fossil fuels is intensifying the frequency and severity of floods, wildfires, and storms, with experts attributing $143 billion of weather-related damages in 2023 directly to climate change. 📄Read more

Oxfam | Policy paper - Takers not makers: the unjust poverty and unearned wealth from colonialism A recent policy paper by Oxfam highlights that billionaire wealth rose sharply in 2024, with the pace of the increase three times faster than in 2023, while global poverty rates remained stagnant since 1990. The report reveals that 60% of billionaire wealth stems from inheritance, cronyism, or monopolies, linking current inequalities to colonial exploitation. To contribute to meaningful systemic change, Oxfam stresses the need to tax the ultra-rich, repair the wounds of historical colonialism and end ongoing colonialism in all forms.  📄Read more

Rural Pact Coordination Group | Declaration on the future of rural areas and rural development policy in the European Union The recent declaration by the Rural Pact Coordination Group is a collective response to the questions set out in the European Commission’s report on the long-term vision for EU’s rural areas and aims to inform and influence future policy with specific proposals to provide better support for rural areas and communities.📄Read more

EP AGRI Committee | Debate on Mercosur and the future of agriculture with Christophe Hansen and Maroš Šefčovič  The future of agriculture and the Mercosur agreement were the topics of two debates with Commissioners that were held at the European Parliament on 29 and 30 January. Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen debated with Members of the AGRI Committee on the future of EU agriculture while in a separate meeting, together with Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič, he discussed the impact of the Mercosur agreement on the agri-food sector. 🎬Info & video recordings

SafeHabitus Policy Seminar | Enhancing the attractiveness of farming On 12 March 2025, a workshop organised by the SafeHabitus project and hosted by the Committee of the Regions, will focus on understanding the potential of social security systems to support improvements in farm safety and farmer health. Policymakers and stakeholders will provide an overview of current initiatives, discuss potential policy options and identify actionable strategies. Kerli Ats and Florian Marin, rapporteurs of the EESC opinion on just transition in the agri-food sector, will actively participate in the seminar. 📄Read more

PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS

Have your say! Citizens and businesses can share their views on new EU policies and existing laws. All initatives here. Today in the spotlight: European Oceans Pact (expires 17/02/2025) EU farm policy – strengthening cooperation to enforce rules on unfair trading practices in the agri-food supply chain (expires 10/03/2025) EU farm policy – strengthening farmers’ position in the food supply chain (expires 10/03/2025)

RECENTLY ADOPTED OPINIONS

At its 593rd plenary sessions, held in January 2025, the EESC adopted the following opinion in the field of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment: NAT/940 - Conservation of fish stocks in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing

UPCOMING EVENTS

10 April 2025 European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform warm-up event (more info soon)

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) - news FAO - newsletter The Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples’ Mechanism (CSIPM) for relations with the United Nations Committee on World Food Security (CFS) - news ECOLISE - newsletter Via Campesina - press releases - newsletter Copa Cogeca - press releases The EU CAP Network  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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