Press release
NGOs denounce the “alarming shortcomings” of the Draghi report
14 October 2024
As the Environment Council meets today to discuss the Draghi report on EU competitiveness, 18 environmental NGOs – including ClientEarth, EEB, ChemSec and HEAL – urge the Council and Commission in a letter not to overestimate the value of the report’s statements on chemicals considering its 'alarming shortcomings' and the inaccurate and unsupported statements it contains.
ClientEarth Head of Brussels Anaïs Berthier said: “The Draghi report waxes lyrical about the chemical industry and its place in the EU economy without acknowledging its negative impacts on people's health and the environment. For instance, it focuses on the constraints imposed by regulation on the sector's competitiveness, criticizing the adoption of bans 'at any moment' or the adoption of restrictions on PFAS – with no mention whatsoever of why these bans are necessary in the first place. This goes against the reality of the market which is already transitioning to PFAS-free business with the support of investors.
“More generally, the Draghi report's recommendations are grounded in an overly simplistic view that the environment is necessarily at odds with competitiveness, and in an implicit assumption that promoting competitiveness will necessarily improve everyone’s wellbeing.
“The report does not address the dependency of the EU economy on a thriving natural ecosystem – ignoring that biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse are among the humanity's greatest threats in the next decade.
“Some of the Draghi report’s assessments on the root causes of the EU’s competitive gap make sense - in particular his observations around the EU's heavy dependence on fossil gas imports. But the report also places too much emphasis on unproven decarbonisation solutions like new nuclear technologies, hydrogen, and carbon capture, utilisation and storage, and it essentially ignores meaningful demand reduction altogether.
“Finally, it suggests to “simplify” the ‘EU acquis’ and stresses the need for permit acceleration in a way that would undermine environmental law. This clearly contravenes the need to implement and enforce the law to address the triple crisis of climate, biodiversity loss and pollution. While a fast and effective energy transition is necessary, it cannot be done at the expense of the very planet it is designed to save.”
ENDS
About ClientEarth
ClientEarth is a non-profit organisation that uses the law to create systemic change that protects the Earth for – and with – its inhabitants. We are tackling climate change, protecting nature and stopping pollution, with partners and citizens around the globe. We hold industry and governments to account, and defend everyone’s right to a healthy world. From our offices in Europe, Asia and the USA we shape, implement and enforce the law, to build a future for our planet in which people and nature can thrive together.