To cool Earth, Europe warms up trust
When the British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said in December at a climate summit that 鈥渃limate politics is close to [a] breaking point,鈥� he probably didn鈥檛 know how close. Within weeks, farmers descended on capitals across Europe 鈥� the world鈥檚 leader in efforts at decarbonization 鈥� largely demanding greater fairness and transparency in policies aimed at agriculture. In many cities, the pitchfork rebellions halted street commerce.
The impact of the protests on European leaders was both swift and startling in showing how to restore climate politics to a healthy state.
On Jan. 25, the European Commission opened its first 鈥渟trategic dialogue鈥� with the farming and food industry to shape a 鈥渟hared vision.鈥� Then on Feb. 6, the commission, which is the executive arm of the European Union, reduced the goal of cutting agricultural emissions as well as government subsidies for fossil fuels.
While those latter steps seem like a setback for climate action, they came with a shift in tone that may herald a more effective approach toward slowing global warming. Notably, the commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, acknowledged that many farmers 鈥渇eel pushed into a corner.鈥�
鈥淚t is true. Issues have escalated in recent years. Our farmers deserve to be listened to,鈥� she said in a Feb. 1 speech. To avoid a 鈥渂lame game,鈥� farmers must now be in "the driving seat鈥� on finding climate solutions.
They need, she said, to see profits as they adopt nature-enhancing measures. 鈥淧erhaps we have not made that case convincingly,鈥� she added. 鈥淲e should place more trust in them.鈥�
Then Ms. von der Leyen hit on what can most heal the world鈥檚 broken politics over climate: 鈥淲e need to move beyond a polarised debate and to create trust. Trust is the crucial basis for viable solutions.鈥�
Her humility to listen, to deliberate more widely, and to be held accountable for failed policy may help reset trust in Europe鈥檚 progress toward a green future. She said success on climate action requires a bottom-up approach or, as she put it, 鈥渁 willingness to listen to each other.鈥�
With elections for the European Parliament in June, the commission president hopes that the coming months of political debate on climate will be 鈥渁n important opportunity to secure public engagement.鈥� She can thank Europe鈥檚 farmers for that, just as she thanked them for the hard work of producing 鈥渢he quality food we eat.鈥�
