Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: FoodDrinkEurope supports science-aligned climate action in its top-line messaging and is broadly supportive of policy related to the energy transition. However, the organization appears to engage more negatively on policy related to circular economy related policies.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: FoodDrinkEurope supports ambitious action on climate change in its top-line messaging. In an EU consultation response from March 2023, the association stated strong support for the EU’s 2050 targets. In notes from a June 2023 meeting with AGRI Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, sourced via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, FoodDrinkEurope appeared supportive of the EU Green Deal. On its website, accessed in October 2024, the association supported GHG emissions reductions in line with the 1.5°C target, and supported the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Engagement with Climate-Related Policy: FoodDrinkEurope appeared to have limited engagement with climate change policy in 2022-24. In a June 2023 consultation response to the EU Commission, FoodDrinkEurope supported an EU 2040 GHG emissions reductions target of 75 to 80% compared to 1990 levels, in line with the average trajectory of emission reductions. In the same response, the association supported the Effort Sharing Regulation with minor exceptions, advocating for the national targets to be limited to GHG emissions not covered by the EU ETS.
Engagement with Land-Use Related Policy: FoodDrinkEurope regularly stated support for the EU Farm to Fork Strategy in 2022-24, including calling for additional funding in a March 2023 open letter to EU policymakers. In a consultation response to the EU Commission from March 2023, the association took an unclear position on the EU Certification of Carbon Removals Framework, advocating for using carbon credits in the agricultural value chain and supporting prioritizing co-benefits but with an unclear position in relation to removals. The association took an unclear position on the EU Deforestation Regulation, with Director General Dirk Jacobs appearing to advocate for more guidance from the EU Commission for successful implementation in a June 2024 Euractiv article.
Engagement with Circular Economy Related Policy: FoodDrinkEurope consistently supported the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) with major exceptions. For example, in an April 2023 consultation response to the EU Commission, FoodDrinkEurope did not appear to support the PPWR in line with the waste hierarchy. In a September 2023 publication, the association also did not support regulating substances of concern or prioritizing reusing over recycling. In an April 2024 press release and LinkedIn post, Director General Dirk Jacobs did not seem to support the final agreement for the PPWR.
Positioning on Energy Transition: FoodDrinkEurope had limited but broadly positive engagement with policy related to the energy transition in 2022-24. In a June 2023 consultation response to the EU Commission, the association supported a transition to low-emissions technology and a target for industrial carbon removals with permanent storage as part of the EU 2040 Target, but without acknowledging the limitations of industrial removals or specifying the target sector. In November 2022, FoodDrinkEurope published a blog post in which it stated broad support for an increase in renewables in the energy mix, but there was some ambiguity regarding the pace and extent of this increase, as well as the need for policy to support it.