|
|
The NAT section of the EESC is currently working on a number of opinions.
Find out more about our:
ongoing work | upcoming work
|
|
|
|
|
"Civil society's engagement is crucial for SDG implementation" says Peter Schmidt, NAT section president
Eight years after the launch of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the multiple and interlinked global crises we are facing today are putting the very viability of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at significant risk. Failure to implement the SDGs will lead to even more crises, as well as harm business and future competitiveness. Over the past years, the EESC has been able to establish itself as an important institutional actor with meaningful impact in the debate on the implementation of the SDGs. From strategic opinions, policy discussions and fruitful partnerships to the very recent contribution to the EU Voluntary Review on the SDGs, adopted last 23 January, our voice is being heard. In the years ahead to 2030, the EESC stands ready to continue playing its part. Read the editorial
|
|
|
|
|
NAT members at the Global forum for food and agriculture (GFFA)
On 18-21 January 2023 NAT section members Andreas Thurner and Antje Gerstein participated to the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) 2023 in Berlin, Germany. The GFFA is a forum that provides an international audience of experts from the worlds of politics, business, science and civil society with an opportunity to address and reach consensus on issues and challenges relating to global agricultural policy and food security. This year's focus was on "Food Systems Transformation: A Worldwide Response to Multiple Crises". Andreas Thurner and Antje Gerstein report back on their participation in the forum by answering three short questions. Read the interview
|
|
|
|
|
Debate on Food price crisis and food insecurity
On 3 February Mr Maximo Torero, Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), will join the NAT section meeting to present an update on the global food crisis and food insecurity, which have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, and discuss with the NAT Members. The debate will be held shortly after 11:00 CET and will be webstreamed live on our website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR FEATURED NEWS
|
|
|
|
EESC Contribution to the EU-level Voluntary Review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda
This month, the EESC submitted its contribution to the European Commission's first ever Voluntary Review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the framework of the UN High-Level Political Forum taking place in July. The European Commission had proactively requested the EESC's support in providing the views of civil society through an "SDG by SDG" analysis, assessing the achievements and challenges of the EU policies to attain each of the Goals. To prepare its contribution, the EESC compiled key messages from a large number of opinions, consulted former Members of the Multi-Stakeholder Platform on the SDGs and carried out an online consultation of civil society organisations. Read more
|
|
|
|
|
Sustainable development network warns about the risk of a "lost decade for the 2030 Agenda"
On Tuesday 24 January, the EESC held an exchange of views with Guillaume Lafortune, Vice-President of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN), on the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The debate revealed that the EU is failing to meet the objectives of the UN's 2030 Agenda. Yet, there is hope. The EU has the opportunity to take the lead, including through financial support. The EESC plays an important role in monitoring progress. Read more
|
|
|
|
|
Putting education at the heart of sustainable development
Transforming societies from fossil-fuel based to circular and sustainable will require far-reaching changes in all sectors, including education. In a recent own-initiative opinion, the EESC calls for transformative education that empowers young people to contribute to the green transition. Young people are the leaders of tomorrow and should be taught about sustainable energy, consumption and production, reducing food waste and making responsible food choices. In a recently adopted evaluation report the EESC finds that improving food education could make the EU school scheme more effective and contribute to youth education for sustainable healthy eating. Read more
|
|
|
|
EESC event | Carbon removal certification
On 17 January 2023 the EESC hosted a public hearing on the carbon removal certification. The event brought together representatives of European institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to take stock of current certification schemes, explore different methodologies and discuss what an EU-wide certification framework needs to provide for in practice to make it transparent, reliable and avoid greenwashing. A video recording, as well as the presentations of the speakers, are available on our website. Read more
|
|
|
|
|
EESC at COP15
NAT section member and SDO president Arnaud Schwartz attended the COP15 on biodiversity in Montreal last December. Nations of the world agreed on a historic package of measures deemed critical to address the dangerous loss of biodiversity and restore natural ecosystems. The Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) calls on countries to "ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30% of terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas" are effectively conserved and managed. Two among the agreed targets include cutting global food waste in half and significantly reduce over consumption and waste generation and reducing by half both excess nutrients and the overall risk posed by pesticides and highly hazardous chemicals. Read more about COP15
|
|
|
|
|
Outcome of the EU Youth Round Table on sustainable food systems
On 30 November 2022 the EESC hosted an EU Youth Round Table with Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski where youth representatives put forward their policy demands on food security and sustainable food systems. The effects of the climate crisis are especially detrimental for the agri-food sector, with natural catastrophes undermining our food security. Youth are calling on more extensive support programmes for young and future farmers to enable them to launch their farms more easily while stressing the importance of reforming the CAP by decoupling funding and agricultural subsidies from farm size. Read all policy demands
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange of views on European agriculture with Commissioner Wojciechowski
On 5 December 2022, the EESC's Farmers' Category, chaired by the two NAT Section members Arnold Puech d’Alissac and John Comer, organised an exchange of views on the general situation of European agriculture in the presence of Janusz Wojciechowski, the European Commissioner for Agriculture. The exchange centred on the topic "How can we keep our food sovereignty?", looking at the challenges that European agriculture has been experiencing since the economic and financial crisis, sharpened by the socioeconomic aftermath of the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Read more (turn to page 10)
|
|
|
|
|
European rural parliament at the EESC
On 17 January, NAT Section members welcomed a delegation of the European Rural Parliament (ERP) to exchange on the importance of rural areas in Europe and the needed cooperation and partnerships between governments and stakeholders at all levels of decision-making process to implement the EU Long Term Vision for Rural Areas. The ERP presented their Manifesto and declaration arising from the gathering last September. The NAT Section will further work towards a sustainable rural/urban development and contribute to the facilitation process of the Rural Pact, a framework for cooperation among authorities and stakeholders at the European, national, regional and local level.
|
|
|
|
|
|
World Economic Forum | Global Risks Report 2023
According to the Global Risks Report 2023, the next decade will be characterized by environmental and societal crises, driven by underlying geopolitical and economic trends. The "Cost-of-living crisis" is ranked as the most severe global risk over the next two years, while climate action failure dominates the next decade, with "Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse" viewed as one of the fastest deteriorating global risks. The lack of deep, concerted progress on climate action has exposed the divergence between what is scientifically necessary and what is politically feasible. Read more
|
|
|
|
|
Oxfam report | Survival of the Richest
According to a report recently published by Oxfam, since 2020, the richest 1% have captured almost two-thirds of all new wealth - nearly twice as much money as the bottom 99% of the world's population. At the same time, at least 1.7 billion workers now live in countries where inflation is outpacing wages, and over 820 million people - roughly one in ten people on Earth - are going hungry. According to the World Bank, we are likely seeing the biggest increase in global inequality and poverty since WW2. Read more
|
|
|
|
|
Activism Inside Out | A guide to becoming a more effective change-maker
The European Youth Forum created a free online course which works as a personal, step-by-step guide to becoming a more effective change-maker. The course is meant to help you to develop new skills and understand your role as an activist by uncovering the internal narrative and story you hold about yourself, others and the world within your activism. It will provide you with space for reflection on how this story impacts the change you want to make. The course is self-paced and is composed of several sections. Read more
|
|
|
|
|
|
Have your say!
Citizens and businesses can share their views on new EU policies and existing laws.
All initatives here.
Today in the spotlight:
|
|
|
|
RECENTLY ADOPTED OPINIONS
|
|
|
|
At its 575th plenary session, held on 24 and 25 January 2023, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinions in the field of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
Do you like this newsletter?
You can give us your feedback
in less than 3 minutes!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|