In today’s annual State of the Union address, President Ursula von der Leyen emphasised the need for the EU to step up its efforts on climate action – for scientific, economic and security reasons -by continuing the progress made by the European Green Deal, setting ambitious intermediate climate targets, and channelling investment into climate adaptation, resilience and nature based solutions.
In the face of disastrous forest fires this summer, these encouraging words must now be followed by concrete action, notably by fully implementing and enforcing the strong EU environmental and climate laws, instead of pursuing a deregulation agenda under the guise of ‘simplification’, which would risk undermining the integrity of the EU’s environmental legal framework, and weaken laws that protect the climate, nature and the wellbeing of Europeans.
“The President is talking the talk, now she must stop walking in the other direction. Action on climate and nature is more urgent than ever, and we must not allow the EU to use “simplification” as a pretext to dismantle environmental targets and obligations that anchor Europe’s green and fair transition. This would create legal uncertainty, weaken the EU’s international credibility, penalise frontrunners – and ultimately put the EU’s climate and biodiversity commitments at risk,” said Ester Asin, Director of the WWF European Policy Office.
The European Commission President also reaffirmed the EU’s determination to meet its climate objectives, underlining that the Union remains on track to achieve its 2030 target. WWF emphasises that the crucial next step is to translate these pledges into concrete action. As von der Leyen highlighted, science must remain our compass in shaping a robust 2040 climate goal, which means taking action in the EU, not trying to offshore our responsibilities to third countries.
Her address further outlined encouraging measures to accelerate the decarbonisation of European industry and a clear ambition to establish the EU as a global frontrunner in the circular economy by 2030.
“Industrial decarbonisation is key for EU’s resilience. Public investment is the fuel that can help energy-intensive industries transition and scale up clean technologies. WWF, therefore, welcomes President von der Leyen’s proposals for a Battery boost package in Europe and an Industrial Decarbonisation Act, but also warns that any funding for resources and energy intensive industries must come with strings attach for real decarbonisation and green innovation,” said Camille Maury, Senior Policy Officer on Industrial Decarbonisation at WWF EU.
“By announcing a Quality Jobs Act, President von der Leyen addresses a key missing point of the Clean Industrial Deal. We now count on the Commission to ensure an inclusive process to draft this act which includes all stakeholders, including trade unions, academia and civil society,” Maury concluded.
In addition, WWF acknowledges the promise to speed up permitting for grid infrastructure. However, this progress must not come at the expense of Europe’s vital environmental rules and safeguards, which remain essential to protecting nature and people alike.
Environmental deregulation
The timing of today’s address is striking: it coincides with the deadline for the European Commission’s call for evidence on environmental simplification launched over the summer. That consultation has prompted an overwhelming public response in defence of strong EU environmental laws, clearly showing that citizens, stakeholders and civil society organisations expect the Commission to uphold the EU’s environmental acquis, and stop rolling it back.
“Citizens have spoken up in drones to defend the EU’s strong environmental laws, and this overwhelming response shows that people want stronger, not weaker, protections. WWF EU urges the Commission to safeguard the integrity of our legal framework and ensure its full implementation and enforcement, rather than retreat from it,” concluded Ester Asin.
The objectives enshrined in EU nature laws (such as the EU Deforestation Regulation, Birds and Habitats Directives, Water Framework Directive, and Nature Restoration Regulation) remain essential to safeguard public health and the planet and to adopt to climate change. These laws have already been assessed for burdens through impact assessments and fitness checks.
