6.4.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 152/195
3.8.
Furthermore, the promotion of skills, knowledge and support at the level of farmers and forest managers can strengthen the implementation of new sustainable practices and breakthrough technologies (e.g. precision agriculture, controlled traffic farming, proper waste disposal, reducing or avoiding the use of chemical pesticides, maintaining genetic diversity on the land etc.).
The EESC welcomes the Commission’s intention to propose a regulatory framework for carbon removals in the farming sector.
3.9.
Global coordinated action is needed to ensure that climate change is addressed quickly and effectively.
As the 2021 IPCC report indicates (9), there is scientific proof available that the recent frequent disasters in Europe are clearly related to a warmer climate and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Furthermore, it specifies that human influence ‘has warmed the climate at a rate that is unprecedented in at least the last 2 000 years’.
Therefore, the EESC considers that the EU’s efforts must be complemented by targeted, effective actions at international level to ensure global involvement, fair burden sharing and fair competition.
4.
Specific comments 4.1.
The Fit for 55 legislative package represents an excellent and ambitious step and proves once again that the EU is the frontrunner in the fight against climate change.
It is also an excellent discussion topic ahead of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, when the EU should try to convince the rest of the world that they urgently need to carry out similar actions.
The EESC points out that a coordinated global response is the only effective way to address climate change and that working together with our partners in the G7, G20 and other international bodies is the way forward.
4.2.
The loss of agricultural land due to soil degradation, urbanisation and abandonment has been a complex problem in all Member States for many years.
Land-use planning is essential for the EU’s sustainable development, and the EESC calls for a particular focus on the efficient use of natural resources, especially since land becomes scarce as populations increase.
The EESC has already proposed a coherent EU framework that would protect agricultural land (10).
4.3.
In order to increase productivity and carbon storage in the agricultural sector, the EESC calls for wide promotion of and support for sustainable agricultural practices like crop rotation, recovery of organic waste, precision agriculture etc.
Farmers should also be provided with necessary funding opportunities and updated information on the best farming practices and soil quality improvement possibilities.
Finally, land must be managed carefully in all Member States, ensuring the right balance between competitiveness and sustainability.
4.4.
In March 2021, the European Commission published an Organic Action Plan (11) to help Member States reach a target of 25 % of agricultural land being farmed organically by 2030.
The EESC points out the importance of increasing organic farming, which would represent a huge leap for the agriculture sector in terms of reducing GHG emissions and preserving biodiversity.
The EESC also highlights other options for reducing the risk of land artificialisation, such as agroecology, agroforestry, permaculture, no-till farming etc.
4.5.
The figures show that biomass burning has doubled since 2000 and half of all harvested wood is burned for energy (12).
The EESC believes that this adverse pressure on forests has led to the recent decline in carbon sequestration and considers that, while wood-based and other types of bioenergy have a very important role to play, they should be pursued only when biomass is produced sustainably.
Furthermore, the EESC has already mentioned that in order to ‘avoid undermining environmental integrity, fossil emissions from other sectors should not be offset by forest sinks in a way that would reduce wood availability for the purposes of the bioeconomy’ (13).
4.6.
The EESC points out that importing biomass comes with specific associated risks, which are not covered by the EU Regulation.
Therefore, broad international agreements are needed to ensure a level playing field in the single market, while EU trade policy should help prevent imports of biomass resulting in deforestation in the countries of origin.
(9) (10) (11) (12) (13)
IPCC — AR6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis.
EESC opinion on Land use for sustainable food production and ecosystem services (OJ C 81, 2.3.2018, p. 72).
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on An action plan for the development of organic production COM/2021/141 final.
Forests sacrificed for EU climate policy.
EESC opinion on Effort Sharing Decision in 2030 Climate and Energy Policy Framework and Emissions and removals from land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF).