WWF European Policy Office

❗ A new WWF report shows that, every year, EU Member States are channelling an astonishing €34-48 billion into activities that harm nature 😲 Shockingly, up to 60% of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding —that’s more than €32 billion— is detrimental to nature while failing to support the farmers 🚜💔 The misallocation of taxpayers’ money spans other major sectors: 🐠 Fisheries: between €59 - €138 million 🚛 Transport infrastructures: between €1.7 billion - €14.1 billion 💧 Water infrastructures: between €1.3 billion - €2 billion Redirecting these harmful subsidies is not only urgent but also entirely feasible. Doing so could help bridge the €18 billion annual financing gap required to meet the EU’s 2030 Biodiversity Strategy targets 🐝 It's time for a major policy shift! Let’s prioritise nature for a sustainable transition that leaves no-one behind 💚 🔗 Read the report on https://bit.ly/3UDQLa1 #votefutureEU

Could this be the beginning of the end of corporate harms on the environment?🏭🌳 EU Member States officially approved the #CSDDD today, sending a clear message: ➡️Companies can no longer ignore sustainability issues in their global operations ➡️Communities affected by corporate abuses will be better protected According to Uku Lilleväli, Sustainable Finance Policy Officer at WWF European Policy Office: “The challenge now is to ensure that the law translates into tangible improvements for the most vulnerable. Embedding a “do no harm” ethos into corporate culture demands that companies treat this as a fundamental responsibility, not merely a compliance exercise, and those affected are aware of and can exercise their rights.” Reacting to this development, WWF hopes to see the swift and rigorous implementation of the law, as well as the elimination of loopholes that limit its potential. 🔍 Read more: https://lnkd.in/exPG3uzY

Across Europe climate change is intensifying floods and droughts, putting our homes, farmland and livelihoods at risk. What can we do to prepare for more of the worst? Join our debate, organised with the Living Rivers Europe NGO coalition, at the Press Club Brussels, Wednesday 29 May 9:00 - 11:00 (coffee from 8.30). Register at: https://lnkd.in/erA7p8dR Some say we need more concrete infrastructure like dams and reservoirs. But massive engineering works already constrain much of Europe's waters, and when they fail, they unleash untold destruction. Others say that natural spaces like meadows and forests have been regulating water for millenia. They absorb excess water like sponges, realising it over time when the land is dry. Where does the balance lie? What policies do we need to get there? Take part in the debate! https://lnkd.in/erA7p8dR Many thanks to our speakers:

💰 As tax season ramps up, ever wonder where some of your taxes go? A significant portion—between €34-48 billion annually—of EU subsidies are currently spent by Member States on activities that harm nature. That's as much as the average monthly salary of at least 10 million Europeans. Redirecting these subsidies could easily bridge the funding gap needed to meet the EU’s 2030 Biodiversity Strategy targets. It's both urgent and feasible. 🌍 Let's invest in our planet, not destroy it! 🔗 Dive into the details by reading the report:  https://bit.ly/3wGzBRd #votefutureEU

Interested to read our WWF European Policy Office #offshorewind policy asks ahead of the #EUelections ?! Check our January conference summary and recommendations to get a sense of what we want the decision-makers to focus on! Teaser: 1. Stop subsidising fossil fuels and redirect funds to nature-friendly renewable energy projects for clean and affordable energy access (NO more harmful subsidies from the EU as we outline in our latest WWF report => https://lnkd.in/eBdAYQtA) 2. Set targets to halve EU energy consumption by 2040, and reach a 100% renewable energy system by the same date (YES it is feasible => check the latest PAC scenario report from Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe and European Environmental Bureau: https://lnkd.in/eqjjCXkh) 3. Adopt an ambitious #EuropeanOceanDeal and align blue policies with the objectives of the European #GreenDeal (Joint manifesto => https://lnkd.in/eMp7z93Z) 4. Make environmental and social non-price criteria in wind project tenders compulsory and harmonised across the EU (WWF #offshorewind position => https://lnkd.in/ezvCsaag) 💙 to Helena Rodrigues Larissa Milo-Dale Florian Cassier & WWF network for all your work and support

🤯 EU Member States not supporting the Nature Restoration Law are at odds with public opinion. A new poll reveals that an overwhelming 75% of Dutch, Finnish, Hungarian, Italian, Polish and Swedish citizens support the law! European citizens are expressing strong concern for nature and highlighting the key role of Nature Restoration Law in restoring ecosystems for people, climate and planet. The majority of those surveyed believe that nature and biodiversity decline will have negative long-term effects on people, farming and the economy and that it must be tackled urgently by restoring ecosystems. This proves the urgency to protect the environment is loud and clear. 💚 🙌 Across the countries surveyed, a remarkable 75% agree that the NRL should be adopted. Only 6% (!) of respondents did not think the law should be adopted. "These numbers confirm how crucial it is for the EU to adopt the law and should be a wake-up call for governments not supporting this vital, citizens-backed legislation. No one wins when our nature is deteriorating while everyone can win when we let nature bounce back,” says our #RestoreNature coalition. These results come on the heels of a powerful letter sent by 11 environment ministers, urging their counterparts to adopt the law at the upcoming Environment Council meeting on 17 June. 👉 Read more: https://lnkd.in/eUGxvPuN

👇 This doesn't happen very often! In a powerful letter, 11 environment ministers urge their counterparts to adopt the long-overdue Nature Restoration Law. ❓ The vital law to restore degraded ecosystems has been in a stalemate since March when it lost the necessary majority from Member States, following Hungary’s last-minute U-turn. Led by Ireland and Ministers Eamon Ryan and Malcolm Noonan, the letter is an unprecedented appeal to all Member States but especially those not supporting the law - Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Finland, Italy, Poland, and Sweden. "Europe is the fastest warming continent and is facing unprecedented impacts from the intertwined nature and climate crises. Our failure as EU leaders to act now would fundamentally undermine public faith in our political leadership at home and internationally," reads the letter. 👉 More info: https://lnkd.in/dxermZbY 👉 The letter: https://lnkd.in/epMTs3jv

In January, the WWF European Policy Office hosted a two-day event on the future of #offshorewind in the #EU. With our 👀 out on the #EUelections, here is what we would like decision-makers to take away from the discussion: 🚫 Stop subsidising fossil fuels and redirect funds to nature-friendly renewable energy projects for clean and affordable energy access. 👉 Have you checked out our new report on harmful subsidies? Spoiler alert: EU Member States spend billions of EU funds on activities that harm nature https://lnkd.in/epFTNmRp 🎯 Set targets to halve EU energy consumption by 2040 and achieve a 100% renewable energy system, focusing on well-planned deployment of wind and solar. 👉 In a state of #climateemergency, politicians dibble dabble on reaching net zero emissions https://lnkd.in/enkfA66u 🌊 Adopt an ambitions #EuropeanOceanDeal and align blue policies with the objectives of the European #GreenDeal. 👉 A joint manifesto to inspire EU political parties to boost their ambition in the face of the triple climate, biodiversity and pollution crises https://lnkd.in/eJRdZUxA 🌪 Make non-price criteria in wind project tenders compulsory and standardized across the EU while considering regional differences. 👉 Because it's not only about doing more, it's also about doing better https://lnkd.in/eWTCwiMf I am incredibly proud of having been part of the organising team alongside Arnaud Van Dooren, Florian Cassier and Larissa Milo-Dale. Thank you to all who participated and contributed to a great event, full of insightful discussions and food for thought. Another panda win! #togetherpossible 🐼 https://lnkd.in/ebdeBdtY #RenewableEnergy #EUOffshoreWind

On North Sea Day we’re excited to present our key recommendations for the future of EU offshore wind 👉 https://lnkd.in/e6TQijEe WWF’s 2-day conference on nature-friendly deployment of #OffshoreWind with, among others, Belgian Minister for North Sea @PaulVanTigchelt explored how the EU can (and should) achieve its climate and nature goals. This is the advice that emerged: 🛑🛢️Stop subsidising fossil fuels! Instead, channel this money into nature-friendly renewables 🎯Set targets to halve energy use and reach a 100% renewable energy system by 2040 🌊Revise the EU Maritime Spatial Planning Directive 🐟Make non-price criteria mandatory in wind project tenders With the EU elections just three weeks away, we call on all prospective EU leaders to take a strong stand for nature-friendly energy. We CAN & MUST take climate action and #RestoreNature at the same time - for jobs, energy security, food supply chains and more! European Commission Renewables Grid Initiative The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament, Renew Europe WindEurope European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change World Wildlife Fund Ørsted European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Belgian Offshore Platform Seacoop European Environment Agency Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat Stichting De Noordzee Elia Group European Environmental Bureau Vattenfall Ocean Energy Europe Europêche UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention Kazuri Consulting Marie-Kell de Cannart

We've Reached a Milestone! 🎉 Today marks the final release of the WWF European Policy Office #MaritimeSpatialPlanning in the EU reports. This concluding chapter offers an insightful overview of #MSP across the Outermost Regions: #Guadeloupe, French #Guiana, #Réunion, #Martinique, #Mayotte, and #Saint Martin in France; the #Azores and #Madeira in Portugal; and Spain's #Canarias Islands. 🌍 Despite their vast distances from mainland Europe and unique social and environmental characteristics, these regions play a pivotal role as they represent the majority of the EU's waters. Implementing ecosystem-based, climate-proof ocean strategies in the Outermost Regions is an opportunity for the #EU to lead by example when it comes to ocean governance. 🌊 Key Insights from the report: 👉 Diverse Approaches: #France, #Portugal, and #Spain have each taken unique routes in implementing MSP in the Outermost Regions. 👉 Shortsighted strategies: The plans emphasize present-day activities —namely fisheries and tourism — but fall short of addressing the temporal and spatial impacts of #climatechange. 👉Missing piece: Notably, Azores has yet to finalise the MSP process, prompting legal actions by the European Commission against Portugal due to these delays. As the #euelections2024 approach, WWF urges decision-makers to: 🌊 Prioritize MSP across all European waters, aiming for robust, healthy marine ecosystems underpinning a sustainable blue economy. 🏢 Empower local authorities in the outermost regions to spearhead MSP initiatives, ensuring transparency and extensive engagement with citizens and business stakeholders. 🏄♀️ Foster a culture of meaningful and ongoing engagement with all stakeholders to generate greater awareness about the importance of MSP, address potential scepticism, and better integrate their knowledge, views and needs into maritime spatial plans.  🔬 Enhance Scientific Research in marine ecosystems and climate projections, establish tools and objectives to monitor a given plan's success, and maintain open data sharing. 🌎 Boost #oceangovernance by stepping up international cooperation to augment MSP's global influence, particularly in the Global South. Almost halfway through the UN #OceanDecade, let's make sure we deliver on healthy, resilient and productive marine ecosystems across all EU waters! Thank you to ANP/WWF, WWF España and WWF-France for supporting us in the development of this report! 🐼 #TogetherPossible https://lnkd.in/esxcVqFu