Dispute, then law – “Green Deal”: this is how the EU now wants to save nature

The vote was preceded by a fierce political blow. The European People’s Party (EPP), including the ÖVP, in particular railed against the project. Social Democrats, Greens and parts of the Liberals, on the other hand, campaigned for it. Thousands of scientists, environmental protection organizations and sometimes even big companies like IKEA also expressed their support.

Central part of the “Green Deal”
The law is a central part of the comprehensive “Green Deal” climate protection package, which aims to make the EU climate neutral by 2050. The aim is to prevent ecosystems from collapsing, for example by re-wetting drained heaths and reforesting forests. Another goal: also more green in cities.

The key points of the renaturation law:

• EU Member States are obliged to Submit renaturation plans to the European Commission.

• The aim is to have a renaturation in 2030 20 percent of degraded landscapes and ecosystems to start on EU territory, all degraded ecosystems must be reforested by 2050.

• In urban areas, the Sealing green areas be discontinued after 2030. Between 2040 and 2050, the aim is to realize an increase in green space in urban areas.

• The number of flower-pollinating insects should be controlled over a wide area and gradually increased. Special protective measures must be taken for this.

• In agriculture, sustainable and diverse cultivation must be promoted. Dry swamps must gradually be flooded again, but with attention to agricultural use.

• Also the habitats in the sea must gradually be adapted to their current inhabitants, overfishing and massive pollution must be reduced and more natural areas must be created.

• The same goes for river landscapes and areas, Biodiversity should be promoted and harmful regulatory measures avoided.

Video: The March floodplains as an example of successful renaturation in Austria

WWF sees “milestone”
The WWF welcomed the passage of the law in a broadcast on Wednesday. “Even if the proposed law has been watered down, this is a milestone. Restoring nature is one of the most important tasks of our generation. Now the Council, Parliament and Commission must agree on a final and ambitious text so that the restoration of nature can begin,” said WWF spokesperson Joschka Brangs.

Gewessler sees “important step”
Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) also welcomed the EU parliament’s vote for an EU renaturation law. “The EU law on renaturation is an important step towards protecting our environment. It ensures that we give nature room to develop again and ensure that we do not destroy and concrete more and more areas, but protect them,” says Gwessler. She is confident that the upcoming negotiations between the EU Parliament , the EU Council and the EU Commission will be concluded quickly.

Because nature is under enormous pressure throughout Europe: In Austria, more than 80 percent of the species and habitats protected by FFH are not in a favorable conservation status. At twelve hectares per day, land use is almost five times the ‘sustainability target’ of 2.5 hectares per day. Only 14 percent of the local rivers are in good ecological condition, 90 percent of the original heathland has already been destroyed.

“That is why there is an urgent need for agreed, binding targets and measures across Europe. All in all, this not only benefits the environment, but also the economy, agriculture and our entire society,” says Brangs.