Media Bulletin – January 2024

Developments from Europe

EU likely to miss most of its 2030 green targets, PoliticoPro

The European Environment Agency (EEA) stated that the European Union is not on track to meet most of its green targets. Only five of the 28 targets set for itself under the 8th Only five of the 28 targets it set for itself under the 8th Environment Action Program are “very likely” to be achieved, while three others are “likely” to be achieved. The report emphasizes that the remaining 15 targets are “unlikely” and five are “very unlikely” to be met. EEA Executive Director Leena Ylä-Mononen said EU countries “need to urgently step up their actions to meet Europe’s environmental and climate goals by 2030.” “This includes fully implementing existing laws, increasing investment in future-oriented technologies, and making sustainability a central element in all policies.”

The agency’s assessment that the EU’s response is “highly likely” , including significantly reducing the environmental footprint of consumption and increasing the EU’s forests and terrestrial carbon sinks to 310 million tons by 2030. The EU is also far off track on increasing organic farming to 25% of agricultural land, doubling the use of recycled materials, and reducing primary energy consumption.

The agency also found that it is “unlikely” that the EU will achieve its goals of phasing out fossil fuel subsidies and increasing the share of renewable energy to at least 42.5% of the EU’s final consumption. It listed the targets of reducing waste production and halving nitrate pollution. It concluded that the number of protected areas in groundwater and inaccessible areas should be increased, and that the EU needs to take “decisive and urgent action” in three key areas (protecting and restoring the environment, mitigating climate change, and better adapting to changing conditions). “decisive and urgent action” is required in three key areas (protecting and restoring the environment, mitigating climate change, and adapting better to changing conditions).

The agency said that despite lagging behind in many areas, it is “very likely” that the EU will achieve its goals of increasing green jobs and green innovation and reducing the number of premature deaths linked to air pollution from fine particulate matter. Greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be reduced by 55 percent by 2030.

Developments from Around the World

UN Agencies Clash Over Meat Messages, PoliticoPro

The COP28 climate convention ended without any resolution to the heated disagreement within the UN over whether the world needs to reduce its consumption of animal protein.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been facing criticism since it published a report on December 10 stating that meat and dairy consumption must decrease in Europe and other wealthy regions, but that overall global consumption must increase to combat hunger and malnutrition.

A few days ago, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published its own report supporting alternative proteins such as plant-based and cultured meat to reduce the environmental impact of food systems.

Science: Livestock farming accounts for approximately 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. Despite occupying the vast majority of agricultural land, it produces only one-third of the world’s protein and less than one-fifth of its calories. The FAO report argues that the nutritional benefits of animal protein for people in developing countries outweigh this inefficiency.

“If you are a child in Africa, especially in a rural area, this is the best way to get most of the micronutrients you don’t see in any crop, such as iron, zinc, calcium, and vitamin B12. David Laborde, Director of the FAO’s Agricultural Food Economics and Policy Division, told POLITICO: “There is access to milk, meat, and eggs.”

Policy: Critics say the FAO’s conclusion is completely flawed. While cheap green vegetables can better address most nutritional deficiencies, FAO’s recommendations to increase production in “productive” countries such as the Netherlands and New Zealand seem like manna from heaven for the livestock industry.