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Climate Crisis Leaves European Farmers Vulnerable to Far Right, Say Campaigners

Populist groups are capitalizing on expensive environmental policies affecting farmers by offering them support. Anti-racism campaigners and academics warn that the climate crisis and globalization have left European farmers marginalized and vulnerable to populist politicians. They argue that if the transition to a low-carbon economy isn't adequately funded, planned, and equitable, it could fuel a resurgence of far-right movements across the continent.

In recent years, farmers in Western Europe have increasingly resisted policies aimed at environmental protection, claiming these policies impose excessive costs on them. From the Netherlands, where opposition has been most intense, to Belgium, France, Spain, Ireland, Germany, and the UK, protests have seen farmers using tractor convoys to block roads and ports, occupying capitals, and even leading cows into government offices. These protests stem from real grievances, as farmers argue that the financial burden of environmental policies is too heavy, especially following energy crises and the pandemic. Many feel overwhelmed by regulations and undervalued by city dwellers who consume their produce without regard for its origins.

Over recent decades, the number of small farms across Europe has declined, as large corporations absorbed smaller ones, and the EU's open movement policies led to a "brain drain" from rural communities. These changes have left farmers increasingly reliant on support from far-right and populist groups like Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) in the Netherlands. The recent European Parliament elections in September reflected this shift, with far-right representation reaching 25%—its highest level ever recorded.

Nick Lowles, CEO of the UK-based anti-racist group Hope Not Hate, said: "What we have seen … should serve as a warning to the political classes—the necessary rapid transition to a low-carbon, sustainable economy has to be properly funded, planned, and equitable, without burdening working people." Lowles added that the recent rise of far-right and populist groups in elections across the UK and Europe underscores the urgency of a fair green transition.

Richard Seymour, a writer and academic whose latest book Disaster Nationalism explores far-right responses to economic shocks and climate upheaval, points out that small farmers struggling with globalization, climate change, and high energy prices reflect a broader trend. Seymour said: "For farmers, there's a lot of resentment looking for a target. But abstract issues like globalization, capitalism, and climate change can't be taken to court… Conspiracy theories and far-right narratives, however, allow people to blame specific groups or individuals—like cultural Marxists, globalists, or Muslims—for their problems."

In the Netherlands, the conservative rural party BBB, founded in 2019, seeks to limit EU power and opposes certain environmental policies. Meanwhile, in Spain, where droughts and heatwaves have made olive oil the most-stolen supermarket item, the far-right party Vox has used protests to argue that the European Green Deal threatens rural viability. In Germany, AfD and even more extreme groups have supported farmer protests, and in France, the far-right National Rally used the protests to criticize "punitive ecology," achieving major gains in European elections.

In the UK, the campaign group "No Farmers, No Food," which opposes net-zero policies, was founded by James Melville, a communications consultant and pundit for GB News. Melville has shared conspiracy theories suggesting that private farmland will soon vanish due to efforts by figures like Bill Gates, the Chinese Communist Party, and the World Economic Forum, who supposedly want to control food production and promote insect-based diets.

Magid Magid, a former Green MEP and founder of the Union of Justice, which advocates for climate justice, argued that the issue is more about communication than ideology. He criticized some politicians for allowing the far right to frame climate action as elitist, emphasizing that farmers will be among the hardest-hit victims of climate change.

Scientists have expressed concern that misinformation has distorted the climate debate. The EU's nature restoration law, weakened to appease farmers, was passed with difficulty. An open letter from 6,000 scientists criticized opposition to the law as scientifically unfounded. A separate analysis by the European Fact-checking Standard Network revealed that far-right parties were responsible for 82% of social media posts undermining climate action.

Some farmers have voiced frustration with populist groups co-opting their protests. Geraint Davies, a farmer in Wales, acknowledged that climate change has impacted his farm significantly over the last few years, yet populist groups use these issues to pursue their own agendas rather than genuinely supporting sustainable agriculture. Davies noted that farmers often feel isolated, making them vulnerable to conspiracy theories. He emphasized that a fair green transition should include fair pay and respect for farmers' roles in it.

Lowles concluded that mainstream parties must recognize the threat posed by far-right groups and ensure the green transition is just and well-funded. Failure to do so, he warned, could lead to further far-right gains and potentially disastrous consequences, including the abandonment of climate initiatives and the associated risks for future generations.