The rise of the far right in Europe could impact the environmental agenda July 1st, 2024
- Ana Cunha-Busch
- Jun 30, 2024
- 3 min read
By AGÊNCIA BRASIL
The rise of the far right in Europe could impact the environmental agenda
Professor says changes could have consequences for Brazil
The rise of the far right in the European Parliament, although limited in number and concentrated in a few countries, could influence the global environmental agenda, according to experts heard by Agência Brasil.
This is because far-right parties deny the near scientific consensus that the warming of the Earth is the result of human action on nature, a stance similar to that of the Republican Party in the United States, currently led by Donald Trump, who will try again for the presidency in November this year.
Natalia Fingermann, professor of International Relations at Ibmec São Paulo, believes that the changes in Europe and the United States regarding the environmental agenda should have consequences for Brazil since the current government is trying to position itself globally as a leader in this agenda.
"We may have difficulties ensuring that this issue, which is dear to Brazilian foreign policy, has an outlet in the international system," he said.
In recent months, farmers' mobilizations have brought France to a standstill against, among other things, changes to environmental rules that could harm the productivity of local agriculture.
Giorgio Romano Schutte, professor of international relations and economics at the Federal University of ABC (UFABC), said that even before the elections, the environmental agenda had begun to recede in Europe.
"The message is clear: without considering the social issue and the question of energy sovereignty, the environmental agenda will provoke resistance, in Europe, the US, here, or China. The far right mobilizes this resistance, it didn't invent it," said Giorgio Schutte.
Gilberto Maringoni, a professor of international relations at UFABC, doubts the impact of the far-right's advance in Europe on the environmental agenda, even if there is climate denialism in these parties.
"I don't think that verbal denialism can be translated into a greater danger, not least because what's on the agenda is protectionism, what's on the agenda is economic nationalism and xenophobia against immigrants," he said.
Professor Giorgio Romano points out that, to combat the extreme right, Europe's center-right and center-left parties have adopted stricter anti-immigration agendas and reduced environmental protection rules.
"The center-right and even the center-left have started to support the same agendas, to be stricter on migration and slower on environmental legislation. That's the risk. The center-left in Denmark has the same banner on migration as the far right and has managed to win with these agendas. So that's the problem," he said.
Something similar is happening with the newly formed German left-wing party BSW, which made its debut in these elections with 6.2% of the vote and six seats. Led by MP Sahra Wagenknecht, the party defends restrictions on immigration because it believes that it favors lower wages in Germany by increasing the supply of labor, benefiting entrepreneurs.
Multilateralism and Gaza
For Professor Natália Fingermann, the advance of the far right, although limited, could also have an impact on support for international mechanisms such as the World Bank and the United Nations.
"We could see a collapse of international organizations with these fronts articulating cuts in funding for these organizations that work for collective world security, world peace and also fund various cooperation projects in developing countries," she said.
Another impact of the advance of the far right in Europe could be the strengthening of the position of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with consequences for the war in the Gaza Strip.
"The far right has an intrinsic relationship and an international organization of its own and is closely linked to Netanyahu's government. Therefore, these leaders have a lot of dialogue with Netanyahu and will probably continue with their European support for the conflict," added Natália Fingermann.
European Parliament
Compared to national parliaments, the European Parliament has more limited functions and is only responsible for laws that are common to all 27 states. With 702 seats, the European Union Parliament does not have the power to directly influence the daily lives of the countries in the bloc.
Professor Gilberto Maringoni pointed out that the result of these elections has more of a thermometer effect "on Europe's internal relations than anything effective".
"There are 27 countries with different electoral laws, [in] some countries voting is compulsory, in others it is not. Of course, they can have common legislation on the special issue of immigration, which is the most controversial," he said.
Professor Natália Fingermann pointed out that the European Parliament is also involved in trade and diplomatic relations between Europe as a whole and countries outside the bloc.
"Entry and exit of people, entry and exit of trade, relations with other countries outside the European Union and with other international institutions. This Parliament has a competence that is very different from the competence of a country's parliament," he explained.
Editing: Juliana Andrade
Translation DeepL and Ana Lucia Cunha-Busch
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