Young Citizens Assembly on Pollinators

Assembly members met three times in-person in Brussels and several times online. During this time, they learned about the decline with experts, discussed solutions with stakeholders and policymakers, and deliberated concrete actions to implement the solutions. 

As a result of their work, the Assembly proposed 32 recommendations targeting pesticide use, agriculture, as well as land use and protection of habitats. 

Proposals include reducing the use and toxicity of pesticides, protecting and restoring pollinator habitats, and moving towards more pollinator-friendly farming while ensuring extensive support for farmers. 

Assembly members also called for stronger monitoring and enforcement of existing environmental policies, increased funding for conservation actions, and educational initiatives.

Wild pollinating insects include solitary bees, bumblebees, hoverflies, butterflies, moths – and other flies, wasps, even beetles! These inconspicuous animals are much more important for human societies and nature than their tiny sizes would suggest. Around 4 in 5 crops and wild flowering plants rely on pollinators to transfer pollen and help them reproduce. 

When these animals decline – due to land-use change, intensive agricultural management and pesticide use, environmental pollution, invasive alien species and climate change – the impacts ripple through entire ecosystems, undermining biodiversity, food production, economy, and, ultimately, human well-being. Consequently, safeguarding pollinating insects means tackling the complex web of social and environmental challenges.