Site icon New Leaf

🌍 AT THE PRECIPICE OF IRRELEVANCE

Ruby Silk

Good morning!
How we would love to deliver a New Leaf full of promising news of a brighter future. But this past year has been complicated for the environmental movement, not least due to the EU Commission’s toxic break up with its own Green Deal, which, after an initial “love-bombing” (UvdL declaring it Europe’s “Man on the moon moment”), has arguably included “Caspering” (polite ghosting), “submarining” (reappearing as if nothing happened), and “breadcrumbing” (leading along with no real intent)… If nothing else, perhaps we have expanded our modern-day dating vocabulary.

To stay with the metaphor – while we can’t fix the relationship overnight, we can come together to call for something less toxic! Which is exactly what we did at this week’s #BackToTheFuture protest.

We can also offer a less heteronormative and highly addictive backing track, such as Chappell Roan’s Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess #RubyRecommends.

Stay tuned as we cover:

Grab a coffee, consider supporting our work by buying us one, and get comfortable for this week’s read.

🌍 BRAVE WOMEN AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

“There is no future for humanity without fundamental change.”

SPOTLIGHT – From this week’s UN General Assembly, one voice that stood out with rare clarity and courage. Slovenia’s President Nataša Pirc Musar delivered a speech that cut through the noise of diplomatic routine, calling on the world to defend peace, justice, and multilateralism before it is too late.

NOT-SO-GENTLE REMINDERS – She reminded leaders that the UN Charter was built on the promise of lasting peace, security, and cooperation – a vision that today feels increasingly out of reach. International law, she warned, “stands at the precipice of irrelevance”, as judges, human rights defenders, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the very authority of the UN come under siege.

TRUTH TO POWER – President Pirc Musar posed the question no leader should ignore: are we prepared to look our children in the eye and tell them that the strong may kill, pollute, or trample on international law simply because they can – and that there is nothing we can do about it? Her answer was a resounding no.

OUR DUTY – And in perhaps the most courageous line of her address to the world, she reminded the Assembly of humanity’s failures to prevent past atrocities – and its duty not to repeat them.

“We did not stop the Holocaust, we did not stop the genocide in Rwanda, we did not stop the genocide in Srebrenica. We must stop the genocide in Gaza. There are no excuses anymore. None.”

BRAVE WOMEN – In times when too many leaders fail to do what they need to do to protect our common future, President Pirc Musar has shown what brave leadership looks like. The world – and Europe – needs more leaders to speak up like her. See the full speech here.

🐕 DEREGULATION MADNESS

THE DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK – This week, the EU Commission announced yet another delay to the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation. We’re still cringing at the flimsiness of its excuse: the IT system is not ready… Not entirely convincing, especially given the Commission has had two years to prepare.

The timing also raises eyebrows: the delay coincides with a new trade deal with palm oil-giant Indonesia and neatly aligns with the downward spiral of deregulation since the new Commission took office last summer and began quietly shelving its once-flagship Green Deal.

READ THE ROOM – The decision comes despite the fact that only two weeks ago, nearly 200,000 people urged the Commission to keep EU nature laws strong.

🚀 #BACKTOTHEFUTURE – “I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” The words of Abraham Lincoln rang true for the EEB and our allies on Tuesday, when we joined hundreds of people in front of the EU’s HQ for the finish line protest of the three-day #BackToTheFuture march from Maastricht to Brussels.

Together, we sent a clear message to the Commission: stop your blinkered deregulation drive and take us #BackToTheFuture you promised in the EU Green Deal – a green and socially just future, not a future on a burning planet where the majority suffers while billionaires laugh all the way to the bank.

THE BIG TRIM – Not sure whether you should be worrying about “omnibuses” or “omnibi”? We liked Politico’s one-stop shop for understanding the rules at risk this season.

💰 THE PRICE OF INACTION

The numbers speak louder than political slogans. On Monday, the Commission presented its latest Environmental Implementation Review to the EU Parliament’s ENVI Committee – and the findings are crystal clear: failing to enforce existing environmental laws is costing Europe dearly.

ECON FOR DUMMIES – According to the Commission itself, the annual cost of non-action reaches €180 billion. That is money lost through premature deaths, health care costs, illegal landfills, and destroyed ecosystems – a bill ultimately paid by citizens, businesses, and governments. By contrast, the investment needed to comply with environmental law stands at €122 billion per year. That means for every €10 invested, Europe saves €15 in remedial costs. Evidence does not come much stronger…

NOW OR NEVER – Yet while science and economics align, politics continues to stall. Ten years after the Paris Agreement, the latest Production Gap Report shows governments still plan to produce more than twice the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than is compatible with keeping global warming to 1.5 °C. Banks are making matters worse… A new report from Reclaim Finance finds that they are pouring more than double the money into fossil fuels than into sustainable solutions. Every euro invested in fossil expansion today only locks in higher costs, deeper damage, and greater risks for tomorrow.

OUR MESSAGE TO MINISTERS – As EU competitiveness ministers meet on 29 September to debate “simplification” (aka deregulation) and the future EU budget (MFF), we sent them a clear reminder: EU environmental laws are not a burden, they are an asset. OECD data shows stricter environmental rules do not harm jobs, productivity, or growth. On the contrary, they bring net savings and stability. The true problem lies in weak national implementation – not in the rules themselves.

OXYMORON – Simplification should mean smarter implementation, not tearing up fundamental protections for people and planet. Rolling back investment in climate and nature, as the Commission has proposed (despite its own findings!), would not strengthen competitiveness but undermine it – leaving citizens and businesses more vulnerable to spiralling costs, climate risks, and social disruption.

The facts are there. What’s missing is the common-sense political courage to act on them.

💡 NOW THIS

SPEAKING OF MONEY – Check out this article by Vladlena Martsynkevych, of EEB member CEE Bankwatch, exploring how Ukraine can balance environmental priorities with economic recovery in its reconstruction plans. While the plans include ambitious green goals – from decarbonisation to sustainable agriculture – gaps and inconsistencies remain, raising questions about whether Ukraine is ready for a green transition that could support its journey to EU integration.

🫧 IN THE BRUSSELS BUBLE

TOXIC WATER HANDED TO POLICYMAKERS – On Tuesday, as the EU ‘trilogues’ (inter-institutional talks between the EU, Commission, Parliament and Member States to finalise legislation) on water pollution drew to a close, we gathered outside the EU Parliament to deliver real samples of toxic, polluted water from across Europe directly to EU decision-makers. Alongside surfers (listen to our colleague at Surfrider’s amazing speech, delivered in a wetsuit), anglers with fishing rods, scientists, MEPs, healthcare professionals, drinking water providers, environmentalists, and members of the public, we stood united in one clear and simple call: protect Europe’s rivers, lakes, and drinking water.

THIS WAS MORE THAN A STUNT – It was a warning. With pollution from PFAS and other harmful chemicals rising, we called for strong, urgent action. The message was clear: pollution is real, loopholes are deadly, and clean water must be defended. Huge thanks to everyone who showed up to prove how much people care about the future of Europe’s waters – check the photos! A reminder: 78% of Europeans want more, not less EU action. Oh, and 92% of us want companies to pay for the pollution they cause (just as well the EU has enshrined its “Polluter Pays Principle” in law…)

SO, WHAT HAPPENED!? Despite crystal-clear, common-sense demands, the deal that followed was not good enough. EU institutions agreed to updated water pollution rules – but filled with delays and loopholes. PFAS and other pollutants are finally being addressed, but Member States can delay action until 2039, or even 2045(!!). This is time we do not have. Worse, the agreement weakens the EU’s core water protections. Reminder: this month, nearly 200,000 citizens called for action. What they got was a step forward on paper – but a severe risk to real protection of the water we all depend on. Support our continued calls for #RulesToProtect.

UNITED WITH FARMERS FOR HAPPY ANIMALS – On Thursday, some of us spent the day on a high-welfare sheep farm. Why? To talk about something close to the hearts of the vast majority of Europeans: animal welfare. It was an opportunity to bring animal farmers from across Europe and EU decision-makers together at one table, and to call for stronger legislation, fair targeted funding, and market conditions that reward responsible practices. The EU now has a choice: continue propping up a rotten, harmful system defined by massive animal suffering, or back the farmers leading the way to a better future. Check the press release to see what the farmers said!

THAT’S C[R]AP – This summer’s wildfires and droughts were a stark reminder that farmers are already on the front line of the climate, nature and pollution crises. Yet the Commission’s proposal for the future of agriculture risks leaving them more vulnerable, prioritising outdated subsidies over investment in nature protection, climate resilience and sustainable food systems. The EEB and our allies are calling on EU ministers and the EU Parliament to strengthen the plan with dedicated budgets for environmental and climate action, policies that build farmers’ resilience, and a comprehensive food systems approach that works for people and the planet. Europe’s farmers and nature must be enabled to thrive together. Check out our briefing.

⚠️ MAY CONTAIN FOREVER CHEMICALS

A full house gathered in Brussels on Tuesday for “Addressing the Staggering Costs of PFAS Pollution”, an event co-organised by the EEB and Hazardous Waste Europe. Testimonies from affected residents in the Netherlands and Belgium showed the real human cost of PFAS contamination, while Margot Wallström, former Vice-President of the Commission, emphasised our duty to protect future generations.

BOTTOMS UP – Perhaps the most memorable moment was the launch of “Triple M”, a 0% Belgian beer brewed with PFAS-contaminated groundwater from Zwijndrecht, a small town in Flanders at the centre of a major pollution scandal. In 2021, it was revealed that chemical giant 3M, after which the beer is named, had been covering up decades of contamination of the town’s groundwater. Instead of listing alcohol content, the label shows concentrations of PFOS, PFOA and other “forever chemicals.”

COMMON SENSE – The satirical brew poses a provocative question: if PFAS are everywhere, shouldn’t they be on our food labels too? Behind the banter is a serious message: we urgently need to clean up PFAS pollution and hold polluters to account. Sign the petition to ban forever chemicals.

🧠✨ DOPAMINE HIT

As ever, here are a few slightly happier updates to get your weekend off to a perky start:

☕ BUY US A COFFEE

From dirty lobbies to smear campaigns, billionaire bullies to climate collapse, we face a lot. Support our work, one coffee at a time.

📢 ORGANISE

If you are not involved, get involved. Find a member organisation near you.

🚀 FOLLOW US

Don’t stay delulu, deal with the pollulu 🍃✨ Stay connected with us on LinkedIn, Bluesky, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Don’t miss out! Are you a journalist? Subscribe here to stay up to date on our latest European environmental policy updates made specifically for you!

✨ SIGN UP

Stay informed. Subscribe to our Newsletter by email for the latest EU green insider updates every Friday morning and to support our work. By subscribing, you also get early access to our in-depth analysis of key EU environmental policy.

By: Ruby Silk. Special thanks to the EEB’s editorial team: Ben Snelson, Roi Gomez and Alberto Vela. Editor: Christian Skrivervik.

Good morning!

How we would love to deliver a New Leaf full of promising news of a brighter future. But this past year has been complicated for the environmental movement, not least due to the EU Commission’s toxic break up with its own Green Deal, which, after an initial “love-bombing” (UvdL declaring it Europe’s “Man on the moon moment”), has arguably included “Caspering” (polite ghosting), “submarining” (reappearing as if nothing happened), and “breadcrumbing” (leading along with no real intent)… If nothing else, perhaps we have expanded our modern-day dating vocabulary.

To stay with the metaphor – while we can’t fix the relationship overnight, we can come together to call for something less toxic! Which is exactly what we did at this week’s #BackToTheFuture protest.

We can also offer a less heteronormative and highly addictive backing track, such as Chappell Roan’s Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess #RubyRecommends.

Stay tuned as we cover:

Grab a coffee, consider supporting our work by buying us one, and get comfortable for this week’s read.

🌍 BRAVE WOMEN AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

“There is no future for humanity without fundamental change.”

SPOTLIGHT – From this week’s UN General Assembly, one voice that stood out with rare clarity and courage. Slovenia’s President Nataša Pirc Musar delivered a speech that cut through the noise of diplomatic routine, calling on the world to defend peace, justice, and multilateralism before it is too late.

NOT-SO-GENTLE REMINDERS – She reminded leaders that the UN Charter was built on the promise of lasting peace, security, and cooperation – a vision that today feels increasingly out of reach. International law, she warned, “stands at the precipice of irrelevance”, as judges, human rights defenders, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the very authority of the UN come under siege.

TRUTH TO POWER – President Pirc Musar posed the question no leader should ignore: are we prepared to look our children in the eye and tell them that the strong may kill, pollute, or trample on international law simply because they can – and that there is nothing we can do about it? Her answer was a resounding no.

OUR DUTY – And in perhaps the most courageous line of her address to the world, she reminded the Assembly of humanity’s failures to prevent past atrocities – and its duty not to repeat them.

“We did not stop the Holocaust, we did not stop the genocide in Rwanda, we did not stop the genocide in Srebrenica. We must stop the genocide in Gaza. There are no excuses anymore. None.”

BRAVE WOMEN – In times when too many leaders fail to do what they need to do to protect our common future, President Pirc Musar has shown what brave leadership looks like. The world – and Europe – needs more leaders to speak up like her. See the full speech here.

🐕 DEREGULATION MADNESS

THE DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK – This week, the EU Commission announced yet another delay to the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation. We’re still cringing at the flimsiness of its excuse: the IT system is not ready… Not entirely convincing, especially given the Commission has had two years to prepare.

The timing also raises eyebrows: the delay coincides with a new trade deal with palm oil-giant Indonesia and neatly aligns with the downward spiral of deregulation since the new Commission took office last summer and began quietly shelving its once-flagship Green Deal.

READ THE ROOM – The decision comes despite the fact that only two weeks ago, nearly 200,000 people urged the Commission to keep EU nature laws strong.

🚀 #BACKTOTHEFUTURE – “I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” The words of Abraham Lincoln rang true for the EEB and our allies on Tuesday, when we joined hundreds of people in front of the EU’s HQ for the finish line protest of the three-day #BackToTheFuture march from Maastricht to Brussels.

Together, we sent a clear message to the Commission: stop your blinkered deregulation drive and take us #BackToTheFuture you promised in the EU Green Deal – a green and socially just future, not a future on a burning planet where the majority suffers while billionaires laugh all the way to the bank.

THE BIG TRIM – Not sure whether you should be worrying about “omnibuses” or “omnibi”? We liked Politico’s one-stop shop for understanding the rules at risk this season.

💰 THE PRICE OF INACTION

The numbers speak louder than political slogans. On Monday, the Commission presented its latest Environmental Implementation Review to the EU Parliament’s ENVI Committee – and the findings are crystal clear: failing to enforce existing environmental laws is costing Europe dearly.

ECON FOR DUMMIES – According to the Commission itself, the annual cost of non-action reaches €180 billion. That is money lost through premature deaths, health care costs, illegal landfills, and destroyed ecosystems – a bill ultimately paid by citizens, businesses, and governments. By contrast, the investment needed to comply with environmental law stands at €122 billion per year. That means for every €10 invested, Europe saves €15 in remedial costs. Evidence does not come much stronger…

NOW OR NEVER – Yet while science and economics align, politics continues to stall. Ten years after the Paris Agreement, the latest Production Gap Report shows governments still plan to produce more than twice the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than is compatible with keeping global warming to 1.5 °C. Banks are making matters worse… A new report from Reclaim Finance finds that they are pouring more than double the money into fossil fuels than into sustainable solutions. Every euro invested in fossil expansion today only locks in higher costs, deeper damage, and greater risks for tomorrow.

OUR MESSAGE TO MINISTERS – As EU competitiveness ministers meet on 29 September to debate “simplification” (aka deregulation) and the future EU budget (MFF), we sent them a clear reminder: EU environmental laws are not a burden, they are an asset. OECD data shows stricter environmental rules do not harm jobs, productivity, or growth. On the contrary, they bring net savings and stability. The true problem lies in weak national implementation – not in the rules themselves.

OXYMORON – Simplification should mean smarter implementation, not tearing up fundamental protections for people and planet. Rolling back investment in climate and nature, as the Commission has proposed (despite its own findings!), would not strengthen competitiveness but undermine it – leaving citizens and businesses more vulnerable to spiralling costs, climate risks, and social disruption.

The facts are there. What’s missing is the common-sense political courage to act on them.

💡 NOW THIS

SPEAKING OF MONEY – Check out this article by Vladlena Martsynkevych, of EEB member CEE Bankwatch, exploring how Ukraine can balance environmental priorities with economic recovery in its reconstruction plans. While the plans include ambitious green goals – from decarbonisation to sustainable agriculture – gaps and inconsistencies remain, raising questions about whether Ukraine is ready for a green transition that could support its journey to EU integration.

🫧 IN THE BRUSSELS BUBLE

TOXIC WATER HANDED TO POLICYMAKERS – On Tuesday, as the EU ‘trilogues’ (inter-institutional talks between the EU, Commission, Parliament and Member States to finalise legislation) on water pollution drew to a close, we gathered outside the EU Parliament to deliver real samples of toxic, polluted water from across Europe directly to EU decision-makers. Alongside surfers (listen to our colleague at Surfrider’s amazing speech, delivered in a wetsuit), anglers with fishing rods, scientists, MEPs, healthcare professionals, drinking water providers, environmentalists, and members of the public, we stood united in one clear and simple call: protect Europe’s rivers, lakes, and drinking water.

THIS WAS MORE THAN A STUNT – It was a warning. With pollution from PFAS and other harmful chemicals rising, we called for strong, urgent action. The message was clear: pollution is real, loopholes are deadly, and clean water must be defended. Huge thanks to everyone who showed up to prove how much people care about the future of Europe’s waters – check the photos! A reminder: 78% of Europeans want more, not less EU action. Oh, and 92% of us want companies to pay for the pollution they cause (just as well the EU has enshrined its “Polluter Pays Principle” in law…)

SO, WHAT HAPPENED!? Despite crystal-clear, common-sense demands, the deal that followed was not good enough. EU institutions agreed to updated water pollution rules – but filled with delays and loopholes. PFAS and other pollutants are finally being addressed, but Member States can delay action until 2039, or even 2045(!!). This is time we do not have. Worse, the agreement weakens the EU’s core water protections. Reminder: this month, nearly 200,000 citizens called for action. What they got was a step forward on paper – but a severe risk to real protection of the water we all depend on. Support our continued calls for #RulesToProtect.

UNITED WITH FARMERS FOR HAPPY ANIMALS – On Thursday, some of us spent the day on a high-welfare sheep farm. Why? To talk about something close to the hearts of the vast majority of Europeans: animal welfare. It was an opportunity to bring animal farmers from across Europe and EU decision-makers together at one table, and to call for stronger legislation, fair targeted funding, and market conditions that reward responsible practices. The EU now has a choice: continue propping up a rotten, harmful system defined by massive animal suffering, or back the farmers leading the way to a better future. Check the press release to see what the farmers said!

THAT’S C[R]AP – This summer’s wildfires and droughts were a stark reminder that farmers are already on the front line of the climate, nature and pollution crises. Yet the Commission’s proposal for the future of agriculture risks leaving them more vulnerable, prioritising outdated subsidies over investment in nature protection, climate resilience and sustainable food systems. The EEB and our allies are calling on EU ministers and the EU Parliament to strengthen the plan with dedicated budgets for environmental and climate action, policies that build farmers’ resilience, and a comprehensive food systems approach that works for people and the planet. Europe’s farmers and nature must be enabled to thrive together. Check out our briefing.

⚠️ MAY CONTAIN FOREVER CHEMICALS

A full house gathered in Brussels on Tuesday for “Addressing the Staggering Costs of PFAS Pollution”, an event co-organised by the EEB and Hazardous Waste Europe. Testimonies from affected residents in the Netherlands and Belgium showed the real human cost of PFAS contamination, while Margot Wallström, former Vice-President of the Commission, emphasised our duty to protect future generations.

BOTTOMS UP – Perhaps the most memorable moment was the launch of “Triple M”, a 0% Belgian beer brewed with PFAS-contaminated groundwater from Zwijndrecht, a small town in Flanders at the centre of a major pollution scandal. In 2021, it was revealed that chemical giant 3M, after which the beer is named, had been covering up decades of contamination of the town’s groundwater. Instead of listing alcohol content, the label shows concentrations of PFOS, PFOA and other “forever chemicals.”

COMMON SENSE – The satirical brew poses a provocative question: if PFAS are everywhere, shouldn’t they be on our food labels too? Behind the banter is a serious message: we urgently need to clean up PFAS pollution and hold polluters to account. Sign the petition to ban forever chemicals.

🧠✨ DOPAMINE HIT

As ever, here are a few slightly happier updates to get your weekend off to a perky start:

☕ BUY US A COFFEE

From dirty lobbies to smear campaigns, billionaire bullies to climate collapse, we face a lot. Support our work, one coffee at a time.

📢 ORGANISE

If you are not involved, get involved. Find a member organisation near you.

🚀 FOLLOW US

Don’t stay delulu, deal with the pollulu 🍃✨ Stay connected with us on LinkedIn, Bluesky, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Don’t miss out! Are you a journalist? Subscribe here to stay up to date on our latest European environmental policy updates made specifically for you!

✨ SIGN UP

Stay informed. Subscribe to our Newsletter by email for the latest EU green insider updates every Friday morning and to support our work. By subscribing, you also get early access to our in-depth analysis of key EU environmental policy.

By: Ruby Silk. Special thanks to the EEB’s editorial team: Ben Snelson, Roi Gomez and Alberto Vela. Editor: Christian Skrivervik.

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