For the third time, the environmental and nature conservation intermunicipal syndicate SIAS organised a Regional Climate and Biodiversity Day in eastern Luxembourg.
The event in Grevenmacher focused on raising awareness and sharing information on themes such as nature, climate, energy, and resource
management.
The underlying message was clear: it is essential to grasp the seriousness of the situation, but also to recognise that collective action can drive change.
As Environment Minister Serge Wilmes explained, events like the one in Grevenmacher are valuable not only because they highlight what has already been done, but also because they show where further progress is possible.
He praised the local schoolchildren, saying they had produced short films demonstrating how even young people can contribute to protecting the environment by recycling, choosing seasonal and local food, or helping to green schoolyards.
One of the highlights of the day was a stand where children built birdhouses, while adults received practical tips on how to store food properly to reduce waste.
The Environment Ministry team and the Natura 2000 team – a network of nature protection areas in the European Union were also present, offering young visitors a chance to learn more about aquatic ecosystems.
Just a few steps away, the Repair Café showed that not everything needs to be thrown away – many things can be repaired and reused instead.
Wilmes also responded to criticism following the State of the Nation address, noting that no single speech can cover every topic. He stressed, however, that climate and environmental protection remain top priorities for the government coalition between the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) and the Democratic Party (DP).
He added that just this week, the government introduced a comprehensive package aimed at accelerating the production of renewable energy – a crucial step, he said, if Luxembourg is serious about cutting CO₂ emissions and reducing reliance on fossil fuels like oil and gas.
Still, Wilmes acknowledged frustration over delays in the legislative process, especially regarding the pre-financing of climate-related bonuses, which haven’t progressed as quickly as hoped.
Agriculture Minister Martine Hansen also reiterated that farming and nature protection are not mutually exclusive. She warned that Europe must avoid becoming dependent on foreign food production, even as Luxembourg has backed the Mercosur trade deal with South American countries.
She noted that the situation isn’t black and white, but underlined the need to support a competitive agricultural sector with fair trade conditions. She highlighted Luxembourg’s position at the European level: products entering the EU should meet the same health and environmental standards as those required domestically.
She acknowledged that the issue is complex and can’t be reduced to simple binaries, but emphasised the importance of ensuring that Luxembourg’s agriculture remains competitive while also benefiting from fair trading conditions.
According to Hansen, Luxembourg has taken a clear stance at the European level: imported products must adhere to the same standards as those produced within the EU. Hansen pointed out that, as things stand, some imports are still allowed to contain pesticides that are already banned in Luxembourg.
She explained that Luxembourg has firmly opposed this, arguing that if a substance is banned domestically for health reasons, it shouldn’t be allowed in through imports either. Hansen concluded that this stance has been acknowledged by the EU Commissioner and must be upheld going forward.
