Climate Crisis: Civil Society Pushes EU for Just Transition in Agriculture

The signatories highlight the growing crises threatening livelihoods and food production worldwide, with extreme weather, land degradation, and soaring food prices already taking a toll. They argue that the agri-food sector must be overhauled proactively, as failure to act now would force inevitable—and likely catastrophic—changes later.

The letter outlines several urgent actions for the EU:

• Binding Emissions Targets: Establish ambitious sectoral emission reduction goals aligned with the Paris Agreement. The focus should be on systemic solutions like agroecological and organic farming, avoiding short-term fixes or carbon offsetting schemes that fail to address root causes.
• Transitioning Animal Farming: Develop a comprehensive EU strategy to phase out intensive livestock farming in favor of diversified, low-input systems that promote animal welfare, support rural communities, and enhance ecosystem health. Dietary shifts and sustainable public procurement policies are also essential to complement this transformation.
• Agri-Food Just Transition Fund: Introduce a financial mechanism to empower farmers, especially small-scale operators, to transition to sustainable practices. This fund would complement reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), ensuring fair remuneration for farmers providing ecosystem services while prioritizing agroecology.