Lavender farmer explains legal case against EU climate policy

Back in May, a lavender farmer and 10 other families decided to sue the European Union for failing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Now, the fragrant-flower farmer explains the rationale behind the landmark case. EURACTIV.fr reports.

In the municipality of Grignan in southeast France, lavender is currently in full bloom. “For tourists walking around, the fields seem filled with lavender,” said Maurice Fléchet, whose family has been growing lavender for five generations. “But in reality, lavender plants are withering.”

For over a decade, harvesting the purple flower has become a challenge because of global warming. Maurice Fléchet’s son, Maurice, who took over the family farm in 2001, is the first to struggle in carving out a livelihood from farming lavender.

In recent years, the lifespan of lavender plants has decreased considerably. “Between the torrential rains, springtime frost and droughts, we have lost 23 hectares of lavender over the past few years,” explained Maurice Fléchet.

One of the most difficult challenges stems from the fact that lavender plants, which grow on hard soil, cannot be replaced immediately, it takes an average of two years to restore the soil with other crops before replanting new lavender plants.

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