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.
