As a key element of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the European Green Deal, restoring Europe's damaged ecosystems will help to increase biodiversity, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and prevent and reduce the impacts of natural disasters. The initiative for the development of EU nature restoration targets also aims to improve knowledge and monitoring of ecosystems and their services.
Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius said: “Human activities have significantly altered three quarters of the Earth's lands and two thirds of oceans in recent decades, destabilising our climate and our natural life support systems. Restoring natural ecosystems is a triple win for nature, climate and people. It will help solve the biodiversity crisis, tackle climate change and reduce the risks of future pandemics. It can also stimulate recovery in a post-pandemic world, creating jobs and sustainable growth.”
The Commission is also preparing an impact assessment to support the development of EU nature restoration targets, and to assess their potential environmental, social and economic impacts.
The earlier roadmap for the development of EU nature restoration targets mapped out policy options for restoration targets to be explored in the impact assessment. On the basis of the impact assessment and taking into account answers received from the public consultation, the Commission will put forward a proposal for legally binding EU nature restoration targets by the end of 2021. The public consultation will remain open for feedback until 5 April. The launch of the public consultation comes on the day of the One Planet Summit, co-organised by France, the UN and the World Bank, which this year focuses on biodiversity. More information is available in the news item here.
Link to the online public consultation here.
One Planet Summit: President von der Leyen calls for ambitious, global and game-changing agreement on biodiversity
Yesterday afternoon, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, took part in the ‘One Planet Summit' for biodiversity, via videoconference.
In her speech, President von der Leyen emphasised that "2021 will be the year when the world turns over a new leaf for our planet” at the COP15 for nature in Kunming, in May this year. She called for an “ambitious, global and game-changing Paris-style agreement” to be drawn up at the COP15, since this concerns not only sustainable development, but also equality, security, and quality of life. The President reiterated Europe's willingness to show the way and bring as many partners as possible on board, while leading by action and ambition at home. President von der Leyen also spoke about the link between biodiversity loss and COVID-19: “If we don't urgently act to protect our nature, we may already be at the beginning of an era of pandemics. But we can do something about it. It needs concerted global action and local sustainable development. And just as we cooperate for our 'One Planet' we need to work together for our 'One Health'.” Speaking at the summit hosted by France, the United Nations and the World Bank, Ursula von der Leyen set out how the Commission is working to preserve biodiversity: “This shows that turning over a new leaf for nature all comes down to local action and global ambition. This is why, with the European Green Deal, we are stepping up our own action and ambition - both locally and globally. And the new, greener Common Agricultural Policy will help us protect livelihoods and food security - while we protect our nature and our climate.” Finally, she reminded participants of Europe's “duty to ensure that our Single Market does not drive deforestation in local communities in other parts of the world”. Watch the speech here, read it in full here. Learn more about the Commission's work to protect our planet's biodiversity here.
