Nature and its biodiversity are fundamental to the survival of our societies and economies. It provides our food, filters our water, cleans our air and supports our mental and physical well-being. Yet the EU’s natural environment is under severe threat, with 80% of protected habitats, 70% of soils and 60% of water bodies in poor condition. Human activities such as habitat destruction, resource exploitation, pollution, climate change, invasive species, urban sprawl and intensive agriculture are driving this crisis.
Without urgent and effective action to protect and restore nature, and a radical transformation of our economy and society to live sustainably with nature, this crisis will only deepen.
Restoring Europe’s habitats and species is essential not only for the intrinsic value of nature, but also for improving human health and well-being and mitigating climate change. Efforts to reduce pollution, eutrophication and overfishing are showing promising signs of recovery, but much more is needed.
Nature legislation
The Nature Restoration Law, the first of its kind, is a key component of the EU’s biodiversity strategy. It sets binding targets for the restoration of degraded ecosystems, in particular those vital for carbon capture and storage and disaster prevention. Europe’s natural environment is in a critical state. Restoring wetlands, rivers, forests, grasslands and marine ecosystems will:
– Increase biodiversity
– Provide essential natural services such as water and air purification, crop pollination and flood protection
– Contribute to limiting global warming to 1.5°C
– Strengthen Europe’s resilience and strategic autonomy by preventing natural disasters and reducing food security risks
The EU’s Natura 2000 network, established by legislation, protects more than 27,000 sites across Europe, covering almost 20% of its land and 10% of its surrounding seas – an area the size of Spain and Italy combined. These sites vary in size and include a wide range of habitats, some of which are under strict protection. The Birds and Habitats Directives have provided the legal framework for their management for over 30 years.
More is needed
Despite these protections, biodiversity continues to decline rapidly. Recent agreements allowing increased pollution have undermined efforts to protect water. Soil health is also a concern, an urgent issue given its critical role in combating biodiversity loss and climate change.
At COP15, the EU committed to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, in line with the Paris Agreement to achieve a climate neutral, nature positive world by 2050. This framework outlines how the world must tackle biodiversity loss, with the aim of reducing the risk of extinction for over a million species, protecting 30% of land and oceans, eliminating harmful subsidies and restoring degraded ecosystems.
To maintain its leadership in global biodiversity initiatives, the EU must act decisively and take urgent and meaningful steps to protect nature both within Europe and beyond.
