France’s High Court Blocks Return of Dangerous Pesticide Amid Environmental Concerns

France’s highest court has delivered a crucial rebuke to lawmakers seeking to relax environmental protections in favor of agricultural interests. On Thursday, the constitutional council struck down the clause allowing the return of acetamiprid—a pesticide linked to harm against vital pollinators like bees—citing its failure to safeguard both the environment and future generations.This decision sends a strong signal about where priorities should lie: protecting natural ecosystems and public health rather than bowing to short-term economic pressures. The so-called “Duplomb law,” named after the senator who championed it, had aimed to loosen restrictions on farmers, including fast-tracking water storage projects. However,...