As Europe grapples with the devastating impacts of the climate crisis, a new threat is emerging from an unexpected source – its farmers. According to anti-racism campaigners and academics, the painful effects of global warming and globalization have left many farmers feeling marginalized and vulnerable to the allure of populist politicians and far-right ideologies.
The warning is clear: if the transition to a low-carbon economy is not properly funded, planned, and equitable, it risks fueling a resurgence of extremism across the continent. In recent years, farmers have protested with increasing ferocity against environmental protection policies they say are too costly, from the Netherlands to France, Spain, and beyond.
Genuine Grievances Fuel Backlash
At the heart of these movements are the genuine grievances of farmers who feel overburdened by regulations and undervalued by urban populations. Many are struggling to make ends meet in the wake of the energy crisis and pandemic, and see the added costs of reducing pollution as a step too far.
We feel abandoned, betrayed. We traditionally had some sort of status, but now it’s like we’re being punished for trying to make a living.
Anonymous French farmer
Over the past few decades, small farms across Europe have been in decline as conglomerates expand, while rural communities have been decimated by population shifts to urban areas. This has left many farmers receptive to the messaging of far-right and populist groups, from Alternative for Germany (AfD) to the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) in the Netherlands.
Far-Right Capitalizes on Resentment
According to writer and academic Richard Seymour, many farmers reeling from the blows of globalization, climate change, and high energy prices are particularly susceptible to extremist narratives. “The toxic feeling of failure, of being buffeted by these global forces, the feeling you have been abandoned – that is where the far right comes in,” he explained.
In the Netherlands, the BBB has gained significant ground, now holding two ministerial positions in the national government. The party wants to restrict EU power and rejects some Dutch environmental measures. Similar trends can be seen in Spain, Germany, France and beyond, with far-right parties seizing on farmer protests to justify opposition to green policies.
Misinformation Muddies Debate
However, scientists warn that the debate has been mired in misinformation, with analysis showing far-right parties are behind the majority of popular social media posts undermining climate action. Even when policies like the EU’s nature restoration law are watered down in an attempt to appease farmers, opponents continue to contradict scientific evidence.
Most farmers understand that climate change is real, but they see someone giving them the hope of ending every single policy that’s been pushed on agriculture – it’s such dangerous ground to go down.
Geraint Davies, Welsh farmer
Some farmers have voiced concerns that their campaigns are being hijacked by populists pushing conspiracy theories. The isolation many farmers feel can make them easy targets for those offering false hope and self-serving solutions.
Stakes High for Just Transition
Anti-racist campaigners say it is crucial that the green transition is fair, well-planned, and properly funded to avoid abandoning climate goals or further fueling the rise of the far-right. Farmers must be paid fairly and given pride of place in a well-regulated transformation.
“If this warning is not heeded, we are in danger of seeing the continued rise of the far right in the coming years – with pretty grim consequences, not least the abandoning the climate agenda with all that entails for future generations,” cautioned Nick Lowles, chief executive of Hope Not Hate.
As Europe stands at a crossroads, the path it chooses will have profound implications for both its farmers and the planet. Will leaders find a way to address genuine grievances while staying the course on climate action? Or will populism and extremism derail hopes for a sustainable future? The stakes could scarcely be higher.
