Posted on June, 12 2023

Ahead of the key vote in the Environment (ENVI) Committee of the European Parliament on 15 June, the Nature Restoration Law has received support from the wind energy and solar industry, scientists, the progressive farming community, European hunters, financial institutions, European mayors, and an increasing number of companies and business associations. They join over 800,000 citizens calling for an ambitious Nature Restoration Law [1]. 

What’s happening?

The Nature Restoration Law is the EU’s response to addressing the devastating impacts of climate change and biodiversity decline, and a key component of the von der Leyen Commission’s Biodiversity Strategy in the European Green Deal. However, the future of this landmark proposal and the biodiversity pillar are at risk, following an unprecedented disinformation campaign led by the European People’s Party (EPP) in an attempt to kill the proposed law.

Without providing any scientific evidence to back their claims, for instance that nature restoration will “tear down the villages”, or offering an alternative solution to prevent droughts, floods and fires gripping the European economy, at the end of May the EPP reached its lowest point when the group withdrew from the months-long negotiations on the law. Ironically, claiming to be defending farmers’ interests, the EPP refused to negotiate on amendments that could ensure a new fund for farmers introducing restoration measures and thus increasing the resilience of their land.

While the EPP focused on a scare-mongering campaign, other groups in the Parliament (Renew, S&D, the Greens and the Left) remained committed to looking for solutions and came up with a compromise package that will be put to a vote on 15 June in the ENVI Committee. Although two associated Committees - Agriculture and Fisheries - voted to reject the proposal in May, the ENVI Committee is the lead committee for this file and their vote in support of the law would send a strong signal ahead of the plenary vote scheduled in the week of 10 July. 

Why does it matter?

Europe, its economy and the citizens are increasingly feeling the effects of climate change and nature loss. As nature restoration is a solution to address them both, the upcoming vote on the Nature Restoration Law in the ENVI Committee is of great significance not only for Europe’s nature but for Europe as a whole. While the AGRI and PECH Committees turned a blind eye to farmers’ and fishers' problems linked to climate change and nature loss, the ENVI Committee must now speak for the broader society including all fishers and farmers, and every stakeholder and citizen whose calls to adopt an ambitious Nature Restoration Law have been ignored so far. 

What are we calling for?

The ENVI Committee members must strongly support the law by voting in favour of a constructive position that recognizes the urgent need for large-scale nature restoration. We call on them to listen to unambiguous scientific evidence that restoring nature is a key part of the solution to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and meet the EU’s domestic and international climate and biodiversity commitments. We expect they remain committed to addressing climate and biodiversity crises, as well as supporting the Green Deal. 

The #RestoreNature coalition, consisting of WWF EU, BirdLife Europe & Central Asia, ClientEarth and EEB, states: “The upcoming vote holds far more weight than simply supporting or rejecting the Nature Restoration Law. It will show if the European Parliament considers nature and biodiversity to be a core component of the EU Green Deal. The attempts to kill the Nature Restoration Law and empty the Green Deal of a key piece of legislation regarding biodiversity essentially put the future of us all at risk. When over 800,000 citizens call for a strong law, the ENVI Committee members must give a clear signal that the European Parliament remains committed to the Green Deal.”

Notes to the editor