Billions in Misspent EU Agricultural Subsidies Could Support the Sustainable Development Goals

Murray W Scown,Mark V Brady,Kimberly A Nicholas

doi:10.1016/j.oneear.2020.07.011

Murray W Scown, Mark V Brady + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2020.07.011

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Abstract

SummaryThe Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the guiding policy for agriculture and the largest single budget item in the European Union (EU). Agriculture is essential to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but the CAP's contribution to do so is uncertain. We analyzed the distribution of €59.4 billion of 2015 CAP payments and show that current CAP spending exacerbates income inequality within agriculture, while little funding supports climate-friendly and biodiverse farming regions. More than €24 billion of 2015 CAP direct payments went to regions where average farm incomes are already above the EU median income. A further €2.5 billion in rural development payments went to primarily urban areas. Effective monitoring indicators are also missing. We recommend redirecting and better monitoring CAP payments toward achieving the environmental, sustainability, and rural development goals stated in the CAP's new objectives, which would support the SDGs, the European Green Deal, and green COVID-19 recovery.

Highlights

Transforming agriculture to support both human and environmental health is recognized as critical to achieving the shared international agenda for social development and environmental protection[1] found in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).[2]
Alignment of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with the SDGs We find that many connections between the CAP and the SDGs exist, but their full potential is currently limited because of the inequitable distribution of CAP spending among its objectives
More than 60% of the current CAP budget goes to supporting only one of the CAP objectives15—viable farm income (objective (a)), which aligns with targets for only two of the 17 SDGs (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Transforming agriculture to support both human and environmental health is recognized as critical to achieving the shared international agenda for social development and environmental protection[1] found in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).[2]. Is committed to being a world leader in achieving the SDGs.[6] the European Commission has presented its European Green Deal[7], which is ‘‘an integral part of this Commission’s strategy to implement the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda and the sustainable development goals’’ The Green Deal recognizes the importance of a fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly food system in its ‘‘Farm to Fork’’ strategy, and claims at least 40% of the CAP budget for 2021–2027 would contribute to climate action. The Green Deal recognizes that the EU is not meeting its objective to halt biodiversity loss, mainly driven by unsustainable land use

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