Environmental Groups Criticize EU 2028-2036 Budget for Insufficient Climate Funding

Environmental groups and climate NGOs have strongly criticized the European Commission's draft budget for 2028 to 2036, arguing it represents a reduction in targeted funding for climate and environmental protection despite an overall increase in the budget size. The proposal merges several dedicated funds, including the LIFE Programme and the Just Transition Fund, into broader funding streams, raising concerns about the dilution of support for nature protection and vulnerable communities. Critics warn that the new budget allocates only 35% of funds to climate and environmental goals—a decrease compared to current ring-fenced amounts—and lacks clear targets for biodiversity financing. The reform of agricultural subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is also seen as a backward step, potentially allowing member states to award subsidies without stringent environmental criteria. Environmental organizations highlight that the budget continues to permit public funding for fossil fuels, risking prolonged energy dependency and undermining EU climate goals. While the European Commission emphasizes its commitment to environmental priorities within a €2 trillion framework, civil society groups fear that the new funding structure marginalizes dedicated environmental programs and excludes crucial voices from policymaking processes.