‘An important day for nature’: EU approves first-of-its-kind law that could restore biodiversity

After months of deliberation, the EU’s Nature Restoration Act has finally been approved.

The first of its kind regulation aims to restore Europe’s damaged ecosystems and increase biodiversity.

“There is no time for a break in environmental protection,” says Alain Maron, Minister of the Environment of the Brussels Region. “Today, the Council of the EU decides to restore nature to Europe, thereby protecting its biodiversity and the living environment of European citizens.”

Environmental groups celebrated the law’s passage, with Noor Yafai of The Nature Conservancy calling it “a momentous day for nature” that “will provide a significant boost to efforts to meet international climate and biodiversity goals.”

Here’s everything you need to know about the ruling and how it could help Europe meet its climate goals.

What is the law of restoring nature?

The purpose of the Nature Restoration Act is, among others, to: restore at least 20 percent of EU land and marine areas by 2030 and all degraded ecosystems by 2050.

It is the first comprehensive law of its kind covering the entire continent. The law sets binding goals and obligations for member states to restore their health natural habitats – 80 percent of them are currently in poor condition.

It is particularly focused on those that have the greatest potential to capture and store carbon dioxide.

This includes recovery wetlands, riversforests, meadows, urban and marine ecosystems – and the species they inhabit.

Its goals are to increase biodiversity and use the power of nature to purify our water and air, pollinate crops and improving food security, as well as preventing and reducing natural disasters such as floods.

The Nature Restoration Act, part of the EU’s biodiversity strategy, is expected to help Europe meet its Paris Agreement commitment to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Why has the Nature Restoration Act failed?

The Nature Restoration Act was first proposed by the European Commission in June 2022.

At the end of that year there was an increase in the level COP15 The UN Conference on Biodiversity in Montreal, Canada, where countries agreed to “30×30” – a commitment to restore 30 percent of the world’s degraded ecosystems by 2030.

But last year, the reaction from the side conservative parties in Europe – including the European People’s Party (EPP) – put the proposal on hold.

They claimed that Bill would threaten the livelihoods of European farmers, reduce food production, disrupt supply chains and raise food prices for consumers.

It has since become the subject of fierce debate debate and infighting with the European Commission, left-wing groups, climate scientists and commercial entities arguing that the law is necessary for the long-term viability of European industry, with some conservatives deviating from the EPP’s position and voting in favor of the law last July.

An interim agreement was reached in November but was soon met with further opposition as farmer protests swept across Europe earlier this year.

Why did farmers protest against the Nature Restoration Act?

Farmers argue that EU environmental rules place an additional burden on an industry that is already severely affected by climate change.

They point to conflicting regulations that immediately require farmers in order to reduce their impact on the environment while increasing food production.

After the abolition of fuel subsidies and tightening of emission regulations, farmers complained about the lack of support in the fuel sector green passage.

This became a major issue in the run-up to the European Parliament elections, contributing to an increase in popularity Normal.

What will the approved Nature Restoration Act mean for Europe?

In a vote today among EU environment ministers, Finland, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden rejected the law, while Belgium abstained.

But Austriawhich was internally divided, tilted in favor at the last moment, allowing the minimum threshold to be exceeded.

Under new lawEU Member States will prioritize the restoration of Natura 2000 protected areas, which contain the most valuable and threatened species and habitats in Europe.

Those deemed to be in poor condition under the new regulation will have to be restored to at least 30% by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050.

They must also make efforts to prevent it deterioration areas already improved by restoration measures and areas containing important terrestrial and marine habitats such as peatlands and coral beds.

The law provides for specific measures to restore the declining population of pollinators in Europe and to protect certain species of butterflies and birds.

As well as helping plant at least three billion more trees By 2030, EU countries must ensure that there are no net losses in urban green spaces and tree canopy cover.

“This is a decisive moment in the fight to restore a threatened Europe Forests… which are attacked from various directions – including Loginbioenergy demand, fires and pests,” says Siim Kuresoo, European forest campaigner at the forest and human rights NGO Fern. “This law provides the necessary structure to channel desperately needed resources and energy towards nature recovery across Europe.”

Man-made at that barriers will be deleted from rivers improving water connectivity, with the aim of restoring 25,000 km of rivers to a state of free flow by the end of the decade.

It also has the potential to “unlock significant investments in nature and biodiversity,” both public and private, says The Nature Conservancy’s Yafai.

Now the regulation has been given the green light, will be published in the Official Journal of the EU and will enter into force, becoming directly applicable in all Member States.

The Commission will review its impact in 2033.