EU Parliament must act on climate change

The authors contend that the EU is experiencing a 'U-turn' in climate commitment due to the rise of far-right political forces and security concerns stemming from Russia's war in Ukraine. They argue that current EU-level policies are 'dangerously inadequate' to protect European lives and livelihoods from catastrophic threats. The text highlights that while some industries and farmers have protested sustainability provisions, the economic costs of climate-induced supply chain disruptions—estimated up to $25 trillion globally over 35 years—far outweigh the costs of regulation. The authors urge policymakers to view climate change as a 'systemic threat' rather than focusing solely on near-term risks.

• Recent political developments, including EU parliamentary election results and leaked EU Council priorities, suggest a significant retreat from the EU's previous climate commitments.
• Geopolitical instability, specifically trade tensions with China and Russia's war in Ukraine, has shifted EU policy focus toward defense, security, and migration at the expense of the green agenda.
• The economic risks of inaction are severe, with S&P Global noting accelerated corporate credit rating downgrades due to climate exposure, and global supply chain disruptions potentially costing $25 trillion over the next 35 years.
• The Nature Restoration Law is identified as a critical tool for improving degraded ecosystems and increasing climate resilience, despite facing political opposition and potential legal challenges.
• Current EU policies are insufficient to protect the region from the majority of potential catastrophic threats, and policymakers are urged to treat climate change as a systemic threat to society, economy, and natural capital.

APA

Mikaelsson, M. A., & Rosenschöld, J. M. A. (2024). EU Parliament must act on climate change. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/perspectives/eu-parliament-must-act-on-climate-change/

Chicago

Mikaelsson, Mikael Allan, and Johan Munck af Rosenschöld. EU Parliament must act on climate change. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2024. https://www.sei.org/perspectives/eu-parliament-must-act-on-climate-change/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Mikaelsson |first1=Mikael Allan |last2=Rosenschöld |first2=Johan Munck af |title=EU Parliament must act on climate change |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=27 June 2024 |url=https://www.sei.org/perspectives/eu-parliament-must-act-on-climate-change/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{mikaelsson2024parliament, author = {Mikaelsson, Mikael Allan and Rosenschöld, Johan Munck af}, title = {{EU Parliament must act on climate change}}, publisher = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2024}, month = jun, url = {https://www.sei.org/perspectives/eu-parliament-must-act-on-climate-change/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }