Energy & Climate
The Local Power Plan
Biggest public investment in community energy ‘will cut bills and create revenue for community centres, social clubs & places of worship’.
10 February 2026
Today (12 February), all 27 EU leaders will gather for an informal retreat at the Castle of Alden Biesen in Belgium’s Limburg region.
Officially targeting competitiveness goals, the meeting is set to focus on accelerating the rollback of EU laws designed to protect nature, public health and communities across the bloc.
The talks come amid an unprecedented attack on social and environmental legislation in the aftermath of the 2024 European elections. Since then, politicians have increasingly framed environmental protection as an economic burden rather than a public necessity for communities around the EU.
Policymakers claim that weakening environmental laws is about saving money and protecting Europe’s economy. But the numbers tell a different story: a handful of powerful players benefit, while the rest of society bears a huge cost. The impact of deregulation will be severe on EU citizens. From long-term health issues to higher insurance premiums and increased exposure to climate-related risks, it’s people who pay the price of laxer environmental laws.
‘Investing in nature is not a luxury; it is a high-yield economic strategy, yet EU leaders are turning away from laws that enhance public health and quality of life. Specifically, nature degradation and climate change should be treated as a public health emergency. One in 10 premature deaths in Europe are still linked to pollution”.
SABIEN LEEMANS
Biodiversity Manager at WWF EU
Crucially, evidence shows that the cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of implementing environmental rules. Delays in environmental legislation cost Europe at least €180 billion every year, driven by air and water pollution, waste and nature degradation.
Protecting nature is crucial to mitigating the effects of climate change on our economy – and the EU leaders’ retreat location is the perfect example of why.
The summit takes place in the Demer Valley region, a natural reserve protected under EU environmental law. According to a study by WWF Belgium, and conservation groups Natagora and Natuurpunt, every euro invested in conserving the region has generated eight euros in economic returns.
The benefits for residents extend beyond economic considerations. Improved air and water quality and higher carbon storage have reduced pressure on local health systems, cutting doctor visits and saving an estimated 40,000 euros in healthcare costs.
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