|
|
The NAT section of the EESC is currently working on a number of opinions related to the European Green Deal that are scheduled for adoption in the coming months. Find out more about our ongoing work by following this link.
|
|
|
|
|
Meet our members | Isabel Caño Aguilar: her involvement in climate action and commitment to gender equality
"If today I had to name just one challenge, I would say that we must reclaim and bring to the forefront the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Europe must not forget its commitments, and the urgency must not hide issues that are fundamental to the future of our planet and the lives of its inhabitants." says Isabel Caño Aguilar. Ms Caño Aguilar will be part of the EESC delegation for COP26 in Glasgow, an annual summit considered pivotal in the fight against climate change. She shared her expectations with us. Read more
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dealing with sustainable and balanced rural and urban development is key to EU citizens' well-being
The EESC is calling on policy-makers to implement a comprehensive and holistic strategy for balanced, cohesive, equitable and sustainable rural and urban development. This will involve harnessing the role of local communities, boosting traditional industries and creating new economic activities and job opportunities in rural areas, while fostering synergies with urban areas. The opinion adopted on this topic will contribute to the implementation of the Commission's long-term vision for the EU's rural areas put forward last June. Read more
|
|
|
|
|
EESC study: Shifting priorities towards post-COVID sustainable reconstruction and recovery
The NAT section and SDO of the European Economic and Social Committee published the study Shifting priorities towards post-COVID sustainable reconstruction and recovery which analyses whether and how a selection of national post-COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Plans have adopted the principles of wellbeing economy and sustainable development. National plans from five EU Member States - Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Poland and Spain - have been screened with emphasis on two aspects: how the plans address both dimensions of sustainability and the involvement of civil society in plan development. Read more
|
|
|
|
|
On World Food Day it is key to rethink priorities and put food security and sustainability on the top of EU agenda
In its own-initiative-opinion on Strategic autonomy and food security and sustainability, the EESC proposes a definition of open strategic autonomy applied to food systems based on food production, workforce and fair trade, with the overarching aim of ensuring food security and sustainability for all EU citizens through a fair, healthy, sustainable and resilient food supply chain. To ensure the long-term production of sufficient and healthy food and viable livelihoods it is also important that natural resources are used in a sustainable way. Read more
|
|
|
|
|
NAT members at the Committee on World Food Security
On 11 and 12 October, a delegation of NAT Members attended the Committee on World Food Security focusing this year on the follow-up of the UN Food Systems Summit and the 2021 State of Food Security and Nutrition report. This was also an opportunity to hold several virtual bilateral meetings with representatives from FAO and civil society. Read more
|
|
|
|
|
EU research projects to foster rural development
Last 7 October, the EESC co-organised the final event of two EU-funded research projects RUBIZMO and LIVERUR, which aimed to support sustainable growth and job creation in rural areas. In his welcome address, Peter Schmidt, the NAT Section president, highlighted that rural areas play a critical role in economic and social cohesion and in regions' resilience, and should be made more attractive for young people and businesses to develop the foundations for a sustainable and inclusive wellbeing economy that works for everyone. EU-funded research should therefore continue to explore ways of revitalising the economic development of rural areas. Read more on our EESC opinion
|
|
|
|
|
Green, digital and social recovery – How the recovery plans are supporting a wellbeing economy for people and planet?
Last 22 October, the three Observatories of the European Economic and Social Committee held a conference on how the recovery and reconstruction funds should ensure a green, digital and social transition. In particular, the event focused on three sectors in transition: energy, car industry and digitalization to analyse the opportunities and challenges to shift towards a wellbeing economy, aligned with the SDG Agenda. The conference also highlighted the involvement of civil society in the implementation of the recovery plans through concrete examples. In case you missed the conference, a recording is available on our website. Watch now
|
|
|
|
|
Europe Sustainable Development Report - public consultation - Deadline 3/11/2021
SDSN and IEEP, in collaboration with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), are launching a participative process to develop the second edition of the Europe Sustainable Development Report (ESDR). The objective of this consultation is to provide feedback on a proposed list of 107 SDG indicators which builds extensively on last year’s indicator list. The consultation will help, amongst others, to gather feedback on proposals for new indicators (especially under SDG 12-15) and on thresholds ("green values") to be achieved by the European Union and its Member States by 2030. Read more
|
|
|
|
|
|
EU farm to fork strategy - MEPs underline the need to reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint
The European Parliament welcomes the Farm to Fork strategy and underlines the importance of producing sustainable and healthy food to achieve the goals of the European Green Deal, including on climate, biodiversity, zero pollution and public health. MEPs highlighted the need for enhanced sustainability at every step of the food supply chain and reiterated that everyone - from farmer to consumer - has a role to play in this. To ensure that farmers can earn a fair share of the profit made from sustainably produced food, MEPs want the Commission to reinforce efforts - including through the adaptation of competition rules - to strengthen the position of farmers in the supply chain. Read more
|
|
|
|
|
Committee on World Food Security (CFS) report: Promoting youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems
Food systems are the largest employer of young people, particularly in the Global South, yet they often do not provide decent and meaningful work or adequate livelihood opportunities, nor maintain a balance between the needs and rights of different generations. Context-specific employment and labour market policies at global, national and creating jobs for youth but can also directly support transitions to sustainable food systems by restoring the natural resource base, strengthening social and physical infrastructure, and contributing to territorial markets and food security. Read more
|
|
|
|
|
COP15 on biological diversity
The fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity was held on 11-15 October in Kunming, China. "We have shared our vision towards building collective action and driving transformative change. We have voiced our ideas to reconcile social and economic development with socio-ecological objectives, to reduce the pressure on biodiversity, and to address human inequity. We have all underscored the risks of biodiversity loss, the sectoral shifts needed to move away from unsustainable consumption and production, and the solutions at hand and those that are emerging." said Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity in her closing statement. Read more
|
|
|
|
|
RECENTLY ADOPTED OPINIONS
|
|
|
|
At its 564th plenary session, held on 20 and 21 October 2021, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinions in the field of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment:
|
|
|
|
|
|
22 November 2021
Meeting of the Sustainable Development Observatory with climate crisis testimonials, presentation of IPCC report and EESC involvement at COP26 (more information soon!)
26 November 2021
Second Youth Climate and Sustainability Round Table, with Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries (more information coming soon!)
|
|
|
|
10 December 2021
Webinar: Farm to Fork Strategy - Aligning the food industry with the European Green Deal's climate neutrality objectives and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (more information coming 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) - newsletter
- FAO - newsletter
- ECOLISE - newsletter
- Via Campesina - press releases - newsletter
- Copa Cogeca - press releases
- The European Network for Rural Development - home - events
- 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
European Economic and Social Committee
Rue Belliard 99, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
|
|
|
|
|
If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you would like to subscribe, click here.
|
|
|
|
|