State of Green Denmark’s Post

Finally, we have an agreement for Danish agriculture 🌾📜 As I'm sure many of you are aware, an agreement for Danish agriculture was finally launched yesterday evening after months of negotiations. After closely reading the agreement, three key points stand out to me: 💨 It is positive that the emission of greenhouse gases from each farm will determine, how much the farmer will have to pay in CO2 tax. A tax model based on farm-specific data will create a strong incentive for climate action. SEGES Innovation is happy to contribute with our digital tool ESGreenTool, also mentioned in the agreement, which can calculate the climate footprint for a farm. ⏱️ I am pleased that there is a move towards a faster approval process for climate mitigation tools, because it will allow farmers to implement the tools quicker and also be credited for it. Now, the big task for all parties in the food value chain, including SEGES Innovation, is to accelerate the development of even more climate solutions, so they can be tested, approved, and implemented as soon as possible. 🌲 It is positive that the partners behind the agreement will give the so-called catchment officers an extended role in terms of restoring peatland. The catchment officers are jointly operated by SEGES Innovation and DLBR, and we can contribute by helping farmers with for example, larger projects, where forest can also be included. #climateaction #innovation #farming

As the 2024 general election approaches, the policies outlined by both the Conservative and Labour parties on environmental and agriculture policy will have significant implications for landowners and those involved in the natural capital sector. In our latest article, we go through the key points from each manifesto on natural capital, the road to net zero and agriculture. Find out more: https://loom.ly/MX7XjnU

Denmark Passes Landmark Green Agreement for Agriculture and Land Use 🌍📜 The Danish Parliament has approved a historic political agreement to transform agriculture and land use, marking a significant step in Denmark’s green transition. At its core, the agreement introduces the world’s first climate tax on livestock emissions, targeting a reduction of up to 2.6 million tonnes of CO2e by 2030. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/d3NH3pt4

Today the EU ministers in the European Council will discuss a proposal that is a disaster for #biodiversity and will fool farmers. The plan is to exempt farmers from the very few sustainable requirements to qualify for #CAP subsidy. It will make the already precarious situation worse and offer no long-term solution for farmers. We wrote a letter to Ursula von der Leyen, Janusz Wojciechowski, Virginijus Sinkevičius and AGRI, ENVI, Health ministers to highlight the extreme shortsightedness of the proposal to abolish the very few sustainable parts of the #CAP. The proposed measures are outrageous. They speed up the already alarming collapse of #biodiversity. Basic good practices such as crop rotation, soil cover and pesticide-free space for biodiversity protect cropping systems from climate change and pests. Deleting these basic good practices will lead to more monocultures, more vulnerable cropping systems and increased pesticide use, the direct opposite of what is needed. The European Commission lacks a base of evidence: No impact assessment is carried out to assess what the impact will be on climate adaptation, biodiversity and pollution. Given the environmental crises we are in, this is outrageous. The Commission acts undemocratically: No stakeholder consultation was carried out. Many farmers stressed that weakening environmental legislation is not an answer to their challenges. Experts, scientists and citizens were not consulted. The Commission acts against science: All experts and scientists stress we need to move towards future-proof agricultural practices, to tackle the pollution, climate and biodiversity crises. Public funds need to be linked to environmental targets and public goods. The Commission seems to find they can decide how to spend one-third of the EU budget, 55 billion of taxpayers’s money per year, in an undemocratic, random way, going against all scientific advice.   The wishes of the millions of citizens who signed multiple Citizens Initiatives on sustainable farming, such as the #SaveBeesandFarmers are completely ignored. A few hundred tractors blocking streets, burning tires and spraying slurry inspire the Commission to take undemocratic and irresponsible actions. The measures won’t help farmers, on the contrary, they will harm farmers, citizens and biodiversity. They will bring us further from systems which truly provide farmers with a perspective, foster ecosystem services and let our rural areas flourish. We don’t want nor can’t afford silent springs🐦⬛🌼🐝. https://lnkd.in/g8c_Hpvc

As the European Council 'endorses' changes to the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, I've heard from investors who say the move is 'irresponsible' and raises questions over the long-term trajectory of the EU's climate policy. Impax Asset Management has said the move is merely to satisfy short-term political gains and puts the long-term resilience of the agricultural sector at risk. However, they said - along with SLM Partners - that the move has already been factored in by the market and so unlikely to lead to major movements by investors involved in sustainable agriculture. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/d2qyV-tV

🗝️ As food, land, and agriculture (#FLAG) organizations endeavor to meet ambitious #ClimateGoals set by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), clear guidance is key. Our must-read guide, a collaboration with the Environmental Defense Fund and EDF + Business, provides just that—clear guidance and a strategic framework for prioritizing 3️⃣ types of action: ➡️ Act to implement scalable solutions  ➡️ Advocate to reduce barriers to adoption of solutions  ➡️ Advance promising solutions from R&D to commercialization Dig into our findings and recommendations: https://lnkd.in/g4kW-JCP

The 2024 Presidential Agricultural Agenda is taking center stage as the election season unfolds. Republican policies focus on deregulation and free market strategies, aiming to lower operational costs for farmers and foster innovation. Conversely, Democrats prioritize sustainability and climate resilience, promoting organic farming and renewable energy. Both parties recognize the significance of international trade and immigration policies on the agricultural workforce. The future of American agriculture rests on these critical discussions. What are your priorities on these issues?

🚨 Later today, Members of the European Parliament will vote on weakening the green rules in the Common Agriculture Policy. It’s simple: without healthy soils, clean water, and pollinators, farming has no future. We call on all MEPs to listen to science and to reject the Commission's proposal! Instead of addressing real issues like the the unfair distribution of farming subsidies, removing environmental safeguards will only exacerbate the instability farmers are facing. Under pressure from the big agro-business lobby, this rapid process lacked the necessary depth of stakeholders’ consultation and impact assessment, undermining the integrity of the EU decision-making process. This disregard for environmental protection mocks the nature and climate crises that is already gravely affecting farmers across Europe. #CAP #NoNatureNoFood European People's Party Renew Europe The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament

⚠️ ️The European Court of Auditors has just published its report assessing the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plans, revealing that while the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) aims for higher environmental and climate goals, the 2023-2027 national plans fall short. ⚠️ 🔍 Key Findings: 🔹 National CAP plans are not significantly greener compared to previous periods.   🔹 Green performance is difficult to measure, and depends on the quality of voluntary schemes and uptake by farmers  🔹 Some funding requirements were relaxed in response to farmer protests, raising concerns about environmental integrity. The Court of Auditor’s report confirms the findings of our own: Member States did not leverage the flexibility provided by the legal framework of the CAP and it is now up to them to create robust plans that address pressing environmental challenges and promote sustainability in agriculture. To actually fight the environmental and climate crises, we need a significantly larger budget dedicated to environmental schemes. It’s essential that CAP funding is not diverted to business-as-usual practices that harm both farmers and our planet. Moving forward, BirdLife will actively follow the post-2027 CAP discussions to make sure this becomes a priority. #nonaturenofood #farmerprotests2024 #CAP #commonagriculturepolicy 

How can the next government, which will be financially restricted, show ambitious leadership on the environment without extra public spending? 🤔 🌎 Some priorities outlined by Shaun Spiers in our latest blog: 💷 Use existing budgets well 👩🌾 Reform farming 👁 Have a clear environmental vision Read the article 👇 https://lnkd.in/esUzUPdD