Every day, the EU makes decisions that affect our natural world. Many policy debates and issues which at a first glance might seem unrelated to the fight against the climate crisis and the loss of nature, can actually have a significant impact.

‘Governance’ is about how policy choices are made, who makes them, how they are applied and who is accountable. This sounds technical, but it is essential to ensure that environmental impacts are taken into account in all EU policy-making. Failing that, the EU’s stated goals of reversing nature loss and limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C are out of reach.

WWF is working in a number of ways to achieve good governance in EU decision making: 

• Towards an EU Wellbeing Economy 
  We are calling for a fundamental change in the way we define progress at EU level and a transition towards a ’wellbeing economy’ - one in which we measure what we treasure, such as our quality of life, wellbeing, health, and action on climate change and nature loss, rather than just GDP growth. Currently, we are calling for this shift to be put in motion through the full and swift implementation of the 8th Environment Action Programme.
   
• Implementing the European Green Deal 
  The European Green Deal was declared a top priority for the von der Leyen Commission. WWF works to ensure that the policies and laws that underpin it match the stated ambition to improve the well-being and health of citizens and future generations, notably on climate neutrality, deforestation, nature restoration, sustainable finance and international partnerships.  
   
• Protecting the environment through the EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement 
  Now that the terms of the future EU-UK relationship have been agreed, WWF continues to monitor the application of the environmental provisions to ensure there is no weakening of environmental standards or adverse effects to environmental protection in the EU.