A greener role for the EU, maybe?

600 years old and the huge, shy European Bisons.

But she was angry because the government has ordered the logging of thousands of trees. It says this will prevent the spruce bark beetle from spreading. Opponents say that the beetle’s visits are not unusual, and it’s fine to let an ancient forest take its own course.

My naturalist suggested that the scant rainfall (due to climate change) resulted in coniferous trees with shallow roots, to dry up, attracting the insects. A good rain will repel the bugs. The EU has meanwhile stepped in.

As climate change impacts start influencing the world even more, taking big policy decisions will be harder, not only because of the tenuous links but the irreversibility. In this climate of uncertainty, a strong arbitrator like the European Union is a great asset, because it transcends national politics but is embedded in the Union members’ own sense of right and wrong, and the European identity.

Perhaps, as the sluggish economy and increasing needs, including the immigrants, puts pressure on natural resources and forests, it will be the EU that will have to don a greener garb than it expected if Europe is to protect its self and nature.

(The writer is director, Chintan Environmental Research and

Action Group)