EU Nature Restoration Law
Nadia Paleari
Sustainability Strategist | Advisory on ESG Reporting & Compliance | Climate Policy Specialist | Speaker on Transition & Innovation | UNCTAD Youth Representative | EU Clima Pact Ambassador
Welcome back!
So, we’re already hitting issue n°10 of InsightOut - honestly I’m quite surprised by my own consistency here (not one of my major perks, regrettably).
But let’s dive into this week’s edition, as we have, surprisingly, some good news!
Here’s a quick recap TL;DR
EU approves Nature Restoration Law ??????
A few weeks ago, I was writing about the importance of biodiversity.
Namely, biodiversity is not merely a picturesque backdrop of flora and fauna, but the very foundation of our existence: millions of years of evolutionary intelligence, a repository of all life on Earth.
From an economic perspective, 50% of global GDP is dependent on a healthy ecosystem.
As a matter of fact, we are not doing it brilliantly - here some data:
Protecting biodiversity is about safeguarding our future.
But I said there are good news, right?
Indeed, there are.
Last week, the European Union gave the final green light to the Nature Restoration Law, marking one of those rare moments when good news shines through on the sustainability front.
César Luena, the parliament’s lead negotiator on the proposal, said it all:
“the EU can now move from protecting nature to restoring it”
What is the EU Nature Restoration Law?
Proposed in June 2022, the Nature Restoration Law is a cornerstone of the European Commission’s strategy to meet its climate and biodiversity goals.
It aims to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030.
As Luena said, this law is a significant shift in environmental policy, from merely conserving what's left to actively restoring what has been lost.
Why do we need it?
Is this law necessary? Absolutely.
Building on the staggering data I shared before, and focusing on the EU situation, according to a report by the European Environment Agency, only 15% of EU habitats are in good condition. More than 80% of the natural habitats in Europe listed in the habitats directive are not doing weel, as you can see in the map below:
Currently, only 26% of the EU’s land and 12% of marine areas are protected.
How will it be implemented?
EU countries are required to submit national restoration plans to the Commission, detailing how they intend to achieve the set targets. These plans must include provisions for monitoring and reporting progress. Despite some elements being weakened since the original proposal, this law remains a crucial step towards bridging the gap between environmental goals and actionable outcomes.
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The economic implications of this law are substantial.
According to an impact assessment study by the Commission, restoring various EU ecosystems by 2050 could yield economic benefits worth approximately €1.86 trillion, compared to the estimated €154 billion cost of these actions. The study further highlights that the climate mitigation benefits alone surpass the costs of restoration actions.
In conclusion, the passage of the Nature Restoration Law marks a pivotal moment for EU environmental policy. It represents a transition from conservation to proactive restoration efforts, laying a foundation for significant environmental and economic benefits
Doomism vs Optimism
As we navigate the complexities of climate action, it’s crucial to balance doomism and optimism. I recommend this insightful read by Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC during the Paris Agreement's approval:
A sense of despair is understandable, but it robs us of our agency, makes us vulnerable to mis- and disinformation, and prevents the radical collaboration we need. A world in which we pass 1.5°C is not set in stone.
The sense of doubt in our collective ability to address the climate crisis is dangerous. It's a sentiment shared not just by scientists but also by politicians, philanthropists, young people, and many others involved in climate action.
This doubt is often fueled by those who benefit from maintaining the status quo, spreading uncertainty and misinformation.
But we cannot let that grief turn into paralysis.
We have a responsibility—and an incredible opportunity—to change our future.
UEFA Euro 2024: a model of sustainability?
"The most sustainable European Championship of all time."
This ambitious goal has been set for this summer's UEFA Euro 2024 tournament in Germany.
Football - in my opinion - is usually just green on the pitch.
Yet, this time, we can say some steps have actually been taken:
UEFA is introducing the UEFA Carbon Footprint Calculator, accessible to all football stakeholders at?www.uefa.com/carboncalculator.
Moreover, a good shift has been made in the transportation modes: at EURO 2016 in France, over 75% of team transfers to matches were done by plane. In Germany, that figure is expected to drop to 25%, with train or bus transfers being the preferred method of transport.
As a whole, EURO 2024 is set to create significantly fewer carbon emissions than the World Cup in Qatar, about 49.,000 tonnes compared with the estimated over 3.50 billion of Qatar, two years ago.
What do you think? Are we on the good path?
That's all for this week's InsightOut!
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See you next week,
Cheers,
Nadia