On November 9th, the European Council agreed to negotiate a new law aimed at restoring European natural habitats by 2030. The acceptance of the negotiating position of the law, achieved with a narrow majority by Members of the European Parliament (336 votes in favor, 300 against, and 13 abstentions), represents a step forward in the restoration of all European natural ecosystems. These ecosystems are not only crucial for life on the continent but also play an essential role in combating climate change, addressing biodiversity loss, and promoting a reduction in risks to food security.
Back to the roots
The proposed law, initially put forward by the European Comission in June 2022, was accepted after more than a year, following a challenging journey marked by negotiations and contentious discussions.
The reasons behind the legislative proposal can be traced to the ongoing deterioration of European natural habitats, crucial for the continent's life and economy. In fact, only 15% of Europe's natural resources are in "good" condition, while the vast majority of natural areas are subject to significant damage. This damage is not only due to climate change and rising temperatures, but also results from pollution, increasing urbanization, expansion of rural areas, the spread of invasive exotic species, and last but not least, the growing scarcity of water resources.
Nature and its habitats play an indispensable role in sustaining terrestrial life and the global economy. They not only provide essential elements like food, water, and raw materials but also play a pivotal role in oxygen generation, carbon dioxide absorption, and mitigating climate change—critical factors that enable life to thrive on Earth.
Specifically, around 50% of the worldwide Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is derived from nature. The restoration of natural ecosystems involves supporting the recovery of degraded or damaged ecosystems, enhancing their structure and functions. The overarching objective is to bolster resilience and biodiversity in the natural world.
The content of the legislative proposal
The content of the legislative proposal, approved by the European Council, undergoes a significant redesign from the Commission's initial drafts. Nonetheless, it represents a stride toward achieving the objectives outlined in the "EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030," adopted by the European Union in 2020. This strategy aims to restore European biodiversity by 2030, benefiting people, the climate, and the planet.
Aknowledging that approximately 80% of European natural habitats are in degraded conditions, the proposal seeks to restore at least 20% of European terrestrial and marine ecosystems by 2030 and all damaged ecosystems by 2050. The restoration of these compromised areas would also contribute to meeting the EU's mitigation and climate adaptation goals in line with international agreements signed by the Union.
Additionally, the proposal outlines crucial measures and objectives for specific ecosystems, including forests, agricultural lands, urban ecosystems, marine and freshwater ecosystems. It also addresses the decline of pollinator insects, essential for sustaining crop growth.
In practical terms, the law on the restoration of natural habitats would necessitate Member States to implement national plans aimed at achieving overarching community objectives. Examples of relevant measures that individual Member States can undertake include the removal of non-native crops that could harm local flora, the rehydration of drained peatlands, and the prohibition or strong restriction of the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
The approval of the proposal for a "EU nature restoration law" by the Council of the European Union marks just the initial step toward the final text of the law, which must be agreed upon and debated by the European Parliament before entering into force definitively. Nevertheless, the provisional agreement reached signifies a milestone in the history and policies of Europe concerning environmental protection.
Translated by Iuliana Cindrea
Mondo Internazionale APS – All rights reserved ® 2023
List of sources consulted for this article:
https://www.epc.eu/en/Publications/Making-sense-of-the-EUs-Nature-Restoration-Law~5269a8
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/nature-restoration/
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/nature-restoration-law_en
https://unsplash.com/it/s/foto... (image link)
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L'Autore
Elisa Modonutti
Studentessa di Scienze internazionali e diplomatiche, amante della lettura, dei viaggi e con una curiosità innata di scoprire il mondo che ci circonda
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Unione Europea biodiversità Protezione natura ecosistemi naturali cambiamento climatico