BRUSSELS - Increased political resistance to new EU laws to protect the environment has left the European Commission fighting to keep intact its vision for Europe’s green transition.
“It’s just too much. People are frustrated with new rules every year,” EPP lawmaker Peter Liese said. French President Emmanuel Macron this month suggested a pause on new European environment regulation, to give industries time to absorb recently-agreed laws. Many of the remaining Bills are focused less on planet-warming CO2 emissions than on other environmental calamites - pollution, the collapse of bee and butterfly populations, or Europe’s poor soil health.More On This TopicRestored ecosystems such as forests and peatlands, for instance, absorb more CO2 emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture - the sector most affected by the nature laws - have barely fallen since 2005, the European Environment Agency has said.
Some countries, however, say more environment laws would overburden industries and risk denting political support for green measures.