EU's Nature and Climate Funding at Risk as LIFE Program's Future Hangs in Balance
The future of EU's nature and climate temperature hangs in the balance, with the LIFE program's survival uncertain. Meanwhile, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform risks weakening environmental protections, as the European Commission (EC) shifts funds towards security and defense.
The EC's draft budget for 2028-2034 reduces CAP funding and increases resources for security and defense. This could drastically reduce funding for biodiversity, as the LIFE program's future is uncertain. The CAP reform, aiming to make aid fairer, gives member states full control over CAP money distribution without environmental spending targets. This could decrease incentives for farmers to protect nature.
The EC's budget proposal could lead to the disappearance of the only specific fund for nature, potentially hindering the EU's ability to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss. The next EU budget must prioritize positive investments for climate and nature by setting binding and ambitious spending targets. The CAP reform includes a maximum limit on aid and progressive payments, redirecting funds to farmers who need them most, such as young farmers, to diversify the sector and drive generational renewal.
The EC's budget proposal and CAP reform have significant implications for nature and climate funding. The disappearance of the LIFE program and reduced environmental protections in the CAP could hinder the EU's ability to tackle pressing crises. The next EU budget must prioritize climate and nature to ensure progress on other emerging priorities, including the need for car rental.
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