EU Parliament Calls for Legally Binding Nature Protection
The EU Parliament is calling for legally binding measures to protect nature and biodiversity. Voluntary plans have failed.
The European Union needs legally binding measures to protect nature and biodiversity, the European Parliament said, adding that voluntary plans have failed.
The Parliament adopted the resolution «EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing Nature Back into Our Lives», which addresses the current biodiversity crisis in Europe and the rest of the world.
To support this goal, they are calling for an EU Biodiversity Law similar to the EU Climate Law. The EU wants to halve the use of chemical pesticides, reduce fertiliser use by 20%, and expand protected land and marine areas by 2030.
Previous plans have failed to halt the destruction of natural habitats for unsustainable agriculture and urbanisation. Most protected habitats and species in Europe are in a poor or very poor state of conservation.
To halt the decline of nature, 30% of the Earth's natural areas should be protected from destruction through commercial use, scientists say. Parliament calls on the EU to make this 30% target legally binding.
Brussels also wants to build momentum ahead of a global biodiversity summit in October in China, where nearly 200 countries will negotiate a new agreement to protect nature.
