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🧪 THE SOUND OF SCIENCE

Ruby Silk

Dear Readers,

Not all news is created equal. While headlines continue to follow geopolitical twists and turns like the script for a bad telenovela, the real story of our time is unfolding more quietly – in our atmosphere, oceans, and ecosystems.   

Unlike politics, nature does not bend to disinformation or culture-war nonsense. We can keep arguing, delaying and moving the goalposts, but the laws of physics won’t change. 

From mounting evidence that a crucial oceanic circulation system (AMOC) is approaching collapse, to indicators pointing toward the hottest ‘El Niño’ ever recorded, and the emergence of “Europe’s first climate migrants“, our planet’s engine lights are flashing. Yet these signals are all too often drowned out – not least because they challenge the economic interests that still shape much of our media and political attention (“billionaire brain,” anyone?). 

All this goes to show that voices grounded in science matter more than ever. As David Attenborough turns 100 this week (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HUN! 🥳), it’s worth reflecting on the power of making people stop, look and care about the living world and what is happening to it. While the truth can be hard to swallow, understanding reality is the first step to changing it.  

In this edition of New Leaf: 

🔥 Global South leads fossil fuel phase-out in Santa Marta 

🏡 Cities lead with ad bans and heat pump take-up 

🌲 How our movement is saving the forests 

💢 Backwards cap: EU taxpayers prop up UAE royals 

⚖️ Countries drag their feet on legal bullying law 

Happy reading!📬

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✨ HOPE IS CONTAGIOUS

 Science rules in Santa Marta. Last week, a coalition of the willing came together in Santa Marta for the first-ever Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels conference to push forward the conversation on phasing out fossil fuels beyond stalled UN COP processes. The meeting provided real hope, with almost 60 countries taking part and several leaving with fossil phaseout plans.  

Think global, act local. Changes taking place at the local and national levels also give reason for hope. From Florence to Amsterdam, European cities are banning ads for fossil fuels and meat. Meanwhile, heat pump sales are surging across Europe, with sales jumping by 25% in France, Germany, and Poland, as people recognise the benefits of clean heating not just for the climate, but for their wallets every time another geopolitical crisis sends gas and oil prices through the roof.  

Thank you, France. This week, the French government sent a clear message to the EU Commission: do not weaken Europe’s water protections. For 25 years, the Water Framework Directive has protected drinking water, rivers, ecosystems, communities, and livelihoods. Yet the Commission, under pressure from big polluting mining interests, is considering weakening it. Time for other EU governments to follow France’s lead and stand up for strong water protections!

🌳 HOW OUR MOVEMENT SAVED THE FORESTS

Forest law grows roots. The Commission has finally put months of political noise to bed, confirming that the EU Deforestation Law (EUDR) is here to stay and refocusing efforts on keeping deforestation-linked products off EU shelves as of the end of 2026. 

Strength in numbers. The risk of this law being watered down was real, but resistance from civil society, citizens, and forward-looking businesses helped hold the line. This was no mean feat, given a powerful and well-resourced opposition, including the Trump administration. But our #HandsOffNature campaign rallied over 430,000 citizen voices in mere weeks, making it clear to decision-makers that our nature and our future are not for sale. 

Not a look. While the law made it across the line, the leather industry, including suppliers linked to luxury goods giant LVMH, managed to secure itself an exemption, resulting in an overall weaker law and ticked off competitors.

🧢 BACKWARDS CAP: EU TAXPAYERS PROP UP UAE ROYALS    

Joke’s on EU. The EU’s farm subsidy system is funnelling taxpayers’ money into the pockets of the UAE’s ruling royal family, a new investigation by DeSmog reveals. The second richest family in the world have been paid €71m in EU farm subsidies through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) – which accounts for a third of the EU’s entire budget. 

Bad by design. The worst thing is, all of this is ‘by the book’ – this is how the system is designed to work! EU farm subsidies are tied to farm size, so the more land you own, the more public money you receive. While millions of smaller-scale and hard-working farmers – many of whom are driving future-proof farming – are left without adequate support, wealthy landowners get even richer. 

The good news. The EU Commission’s plans for the next CAP would cap area-based payments at €100,000 per farmer each year, ensuring that money is directed away from wealthy landowners and towards active farmers who actually need it. 

But reform won’t come easy. Powerful interests are working hard to keep the status quo by claiming this would harm farms. In reality, the Commission’s proposal would only impact the top 0.5% of recipients (who, by the way, receive a whopping 16% of the budget).  

Invest in our future! The EU Parliament is now debating the Commission’s proposal, and we hope MEPs see sense. Public money should enable farmers to produce healthy food and reduce reliance on fossil fuel fertilisers, not bankroll the global elite. 

🗞️ ALSO THIS WEEK 🤔

Governments stall on law to prevent bullying lawsuits. As the deadline for transposing the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive passes, progress across Member States remains uneven. The law is meant to protect journalists, environmental defenders, civil society and even concerned citizens from abusive lawsuits designed to silence public-interest speech, including those speaking up for nature and climate action.

While a few countries are moving ahead, many are still at an early stage or have yet to begin, leaving significant gaps in protection. While the deadline has passed, time is not up. Civil society is now urging governments to turn political commitment into real safeguards on the ground. Add your name to the call for stronger protections.

📣 Voices of Millions. This week, the EEB joined partners and EU representatives this week for the launch of the Voices of Millions campaign, led by Civil Society Europe. Against a backdrop of democratic backsliding and increasing pressure on civil society organisations, the initiative seeks to highlight the essential role of European civil society networks in connecting communities on the ground with decision-makers in Brussels so that real voices continue to shape EU policies. 

🧠✨ DOPAMINE HIT

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

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