Climate crisis is leaving Europe’s farmers at risk, say campaigners

The devastating effects of the climate crisis and globalization have left European farmers isolated and vulnerable to popular politicians, anti-racism activists and academics. .

They argue that if the transition to a low-carbon economy is not properly financed, planned and scaled up, it risks uprooting a distant continent.

In recent years, farmers in Western Europe have been fighting with increasing ferocity against policies to protect the planet that they say are costing them too much. From the Netherlands, where it was the strongest, to Belgium, France, Spain, Ireland, Germany and the UK, protests have led to tractor-trailers blocking roads and ports, and actions led by farmers in major cities. even cattle are taken away. offices of government ministers.

These movements have been fueled by the genuine grievances of farmers, who say the burden of paying more for their pollution is a step too far, after the energy crisis and pandemic have left many struggling to make ends meet. make a living. They say they feel burdened by laws and looked down upon by city dwellers, who eat the food they grow without caring about where it comes from.

Over the past few decades, the number of small farms across Europe has declined as conglomerates have taken them up, while the EU’s increased freedom of movement has led to a brain drain that has decimated the rural population. .

As a result of these facts, farmers have received increasing support from far-right and populist groups, from the Alternative for Germany party(AfD) to the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB ) in the Netherlands. European parliament elections in September led to a right-leaning decision, with 25% of MEPs now coming from the right, the highest level ever recorded.

Nick Lowles, chief executive of UK anti-racism group Hope Not Hate, said: “What we have seen … should serve as a warning sign to political parties – change is urgent. needed to move to a low-carbon, sustainable economy must be well-financed, planned and equitable and not at the expense of working people.”

Lowles, who works closely with anti-apartheid groups across the continent, said the stakes could not be higher with far-right groups and populists making huge electoral gains. most recently in the UK and Europe.

He said: “Our survey of 15,000 people across Europe shows that people are very angry with politics and politicians and do not trust them to be on their side. This makes it even more important that this change [to a low carbon future] which is done by the people and for the people and not something they think has been unfairly imposed by a distant political group.”

According to author and scholar Richard Seymour, whose latest book, Disaster Nationalism, explores how those in remote areas benefit from economic stress and climate chaos, small farmers who are frustrated by the crises of globalization, climate change, and high energy prices are part of a wider trend.

Seymour said: “There’s all this anger among farmers that doesn’t have a purpose. But many of the causes of harm – globalization, capitalism, climate change – are intangible; you can’t take climate change to court, you can’t shoot globalization… But conspiracy theories and far-fetched narratives allow you to discriminate against certain people or groups – cultures of Marxists, globalists, Muslims – those who disappoint you, that is. appeal.”

“Vulnerable” farmers – those who have seen their standard of living and quality of life decline during their lifetime – are particularly vulnerable, according to Seymour. “The toxic feeling of failure, the feeling of being oppressed by the forces of this world, the feeling of being rejected, betrayed, when you used to have a certain status, it’s a toxic mixture and it’s where the far right comes in.”

In the Netherlands BBB, a rural conservative party founded in 2019 that wants to block EU powers and rejects some of the environmental measures proposed by the Dutch government, now has two ministers in the national government. The Guardian repeatedly requested an interview with the party representative but no one was found.

In Spain, where heatwaves and drought have turned olive oil into the most stolen shop, far-right Vox has used the protests to justify its opposition to the European Green Deal – which it says threatens sustainability of rapidly shrinking rural areas. , while in Germany, the AfD and other extremist and anti-democratic groups have shown support for farmers and for the protests. In France, the far-right National Council held protests in a campaign against the “punishment environment” that saw them win European elections but fall short in national elections. follow.

In the UK, the No Farmers, No Food campaign group, which opposes zero provisions, was launched and is run not by a farmer but by James Melville, a GB News journalist and communications consultant. Melville also tweeted a message from former LBC host Maajid Nawaz, who said: “Farmers stand between us and the WEF’s desire for us to EAT BUGS, have nothing and be happy.” Melville also shared a post with a conspiracy claim: “Between Bill Gates, the CCP and the WEF, we won’t have any private farms left. They want you to eat bugs.”

Magid Magid, a former Green MEP and founder of the Union of Justice, a climate justice group, said: “I really believe it’s about messages, not about ideas, when it comes to farmers”.

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after the news release

“Some of my former colleagues across the political spectrum have endorsed the far right to create climate action as elites. Some of the biggest victims of the effects of climate change are heaven will be farmers, and we need to frame our arguments to them in this way.”

But scientists have warned that the debate is full of misinformation. The EU’s conservation law, which has not been repealed, was significantly reduced to appease farmers. An open letter signed by 6,000 scientists said opponents of the law “not only lack the scientific evidence, they even contradict it”.

A separate analysis of disinformation on social media during the farmers’ protests, by the non-profit European Fact-checking Standard Network found that far-right political parties were behind 82% of the ads the most popular ones that underestimate climate action.

Some farmers have expressed concern that their campaigns have been blocked by mobs. Geraint Davies, who farms in the Snowdonia National Park in Wales, said: “Most farmers understand that climate change is real but they see someone giving them hope to end another policy and the other is pressed into agriculture—it is such a dangerous place. really low.”

Davies says climate change is affecting his farm “four or five years ago it didn’t happen”.

“Every year there is a different climate situation that we have to deal with. These groups have tried to push different plans on farmers to prevent them from producing sustainable food.”

Davies added that many farmers felt marginalized and ignored by society, making them easy targets for conspiracy theories and popular stories. “There’s a lot of isolation in farming, and if someone gives you that kind of glimmer of hope, tells you what you want to hear, you might think they’re working on your behalf, but in reality it’s self-aggrandizement you see.” He said the answer is to “pay farmers fairly, and make them clear and proud of the role they must play in a well-planned, well-managed green transition”.

Lowles says it is important that the major parties are aware of the threat and ensure that the green transition is fair and well planned and funded.

“If this warning is not heeded, we risk seeing the continued expansion of the extreme right in the coming years – with dire consequences, especially abandoning the climate plan and all that affects future generations.”