Far-right gains threaten the EU's environmental policies

Far-right gains threaten the EU's environmental policies

Member of the European Parliament Philippe Lamberts warns of the potential collapse of the EU's green deal due to rising far-right influence.

Lisa O'Carroll reports for The Guardian.


In short:

  • The EU green deal aims to restore biodiversity and improve environmental health but faces jeopardy from far-right parties, prominent member of the Green group, Philippe Lamberts, said.
  • Recent legislative efforts on nature restoration and pollution controls have been weakened or discarded ahead of EU elections.
  • Criticism is directed at centrist politicians, including French president Emmanuel Macron, for adopting far-right rhetoric, which may endanger environmental initiatives.

Key quote:

"The likelihood of [the far right and right] killing the green deal is very high. I mean, they make no mystery that after winning the ideological battle on asylum and migration their next target is the European green deal, and what they call the ‘woke’ economy."

— Philippe Lamberts, co-president of the Green group of Members of the European Parliament.

Why this matters:

Far-right parties often prioritize national interests and economic concerns over environmental goals. This is a critical moment for the EU, as the upcoming elections could decisively influence the region's ecological and public health future.

Meanwhile in the U.S., the Supreme Court has taken a brazen anti-regulatory turn. It’s our planet and health that will suffer, argues Peter Dykstra.

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