In a tense mood, the European Parliament has approved a much-discussed law aimed at improving European nature. With the vote on Tuesday, the so-called nature restoration law cleared a final crucial hurdle, after which it can come into force later this year.
The law requires member states to take measures that will result in nature restoration measures being taken in 20 percent of European land and sea areas by 2030. By 2050, all ecosystems in poor condition must be restored. Europe currently contains 81 percent of its habitats [het leefgebied van een organisme] in bad shape.
Boost for ‘Green Deal’
The vote is a boost for the ‘Green Deal’, the European Union’s ambitious climate and nature program, which has recently come under pressure. Until the last moment on Tuesday it remained uncertain whether the nature restoration law, which became part of a fierce political battle last year, would pass. The law also caused a stir in the Netherlands, because, according to critics, it would lead to even stricter obligations to reduce nitrogen emissions. The Netherlands abstained from a vote on the law last year.
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Deterioration ban
Ultimately, sufficient MEPs appeared willing to support the nature restoration law on Tuesday. To this end, it was already weakened on numerous points last year, so that, according to environmental organizations, not much remains of the initial ambitions of the law.
For example, the so-called ‘deterioration ban’, a controversial passage that the Netherlands also opposed, has been considerably watered down. Instead of obliging member states not to allow their nature to deteriorate further, they must now merely ‘make an effort’ to do so. Targets for restoring peatlands were also significantly watered down.