Going Green About the Gills?

Across the European Union (EU) there was an attempt to set a number of essential 'green goals'. These included plans to make agriculture more sustainable. Legislation was planned to reduce pesticide use; lower its 'greenhouse gas' emissions and restore 30% of degraded habitats (forests, rivers and wetlands) across. In France and Germany, at least, a majority of the general public currently favour ambitious policies to counter the climate emergency. This now, however, seems of little avail. Farmers have been protesting with tractors and manure. This lobby has been noisily supported by climate change-sceptic radical right parties. They are expected to make gains in the june 2024 elections. Most current EU governments are consequently busy 'rowing back' on attempts to limit climate change and to maintain biodiversity. These would clearly benefit a majority of the EU population, including small farmers (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/08/the-guardian-view-on-europe-troubled-green-deal-make-the-case-not-concessions). Farmers should remember the UK's Brexiteers, promised agricultural folk, multiple benefits from leaving the EU. A majority duly voted 'leave'. We can now all see how well that played out for them. People (including farmers) should remember that many politicians only want their votes. Minority parties know there's much leverage to be gained, by opposing poorly-understood changes to current practices. We need a bit of courage from EU policy makers. Are they too 'chicken' to at least try to inform the public about their real choices?