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European farmers launch alternative manifesto of real agriculture and climate solutions

24 November 2022

In the wake of disappointing outcomes from COP27 and as the European Commission prepares to release its likely insufficient Carbon Removal Certification (CRC) Framework communication, farmers’ organisations and civil society have launched a manifesto for agricultural transition to address systemic climate crises.

This manifesto calls on the EU to immediately implement 13 concrete and interdependent action points in order to move towards climate and food justice. After a summer of drought and dangerously high temperatures, with every day the EU fails to take real action, the climate crisis becomes more urgent and we move further in the wrong direction.

The CRC Framework communication, expected on 30 November as part of the Carbon farming initiative, is a prime example of the EU’s insufficient approach to agricultural climate emissions. Although lauded as essential to reaching the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality target, leaks of the document make it clear that the content will not be fit for purpose. Instead of opting for an overall emission reduction, the European Commission plans to increase carbon sequestration on agricultural land in order to offset emissions that companies in sectors such as energy or telecommunications don’t succeed in reducing.

ECVC and the signatories of the manifesto are just some of the voices to have rejected the carbon farming initiative because it fails to address the issue of agricultural GHG emissions and paves the way towards carbon markets, despite rising evidence that these mechanisms don’t meet their climate goals and increase social inequalities. Despite the commendable objectives of the Green Deal and F2F Strategy, real action to reduce the climate impact of Europe agriculture is currently being blocked by agribusiness and other corporate sectors that work to maintain the status quo and the EU’s failure to take bold political decisions for the sake of people, the climate and the environment.

Instead, through these 13 concrete actions and supporting rationale, the manifesto calls on the EU to put farmers at the centre of an ambitious and fair agricultural transition. It demands action to enable food sovereignty, global solidarity and climate justice, as well as the defence of peace and the respect of human rights, working with nature and supporting life-enriching systems. Right now, we have an opportunity – perhaps one of the last opportunities – to carry out a real transition and face the challenges of climate and food crisis.

Press release - EN

Communiqué de presse - FR

Comunicado de prensa - ES

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