Europe's Struggle to Implement Green Laws and Combat Climate Change

The European Union is facing pressure from within to pause new environmental efforts amid fears they will hurt the economy. Some leaders and lawmakers are concerned about antagonizing workers and voters with new binding legislation and restrictive measures and are urging the 27-nation bloc to hit the brakes. Cracks in the European united front against climate change have emerged in recent months, with France and Belgium calling for a pause on EU environmental regulation. The opposition to the nature restoration law has caused great concern among environmental NGOs, and Frans Timmermans, the EU Commission’s top climate official in charge of its Green Deal, warned he would not put forward an alternative proposal because there isn’t time.