Proposal for a Regulation on nature restoration

Summary:

Legislative initiative tabled by the European Commission on 22 June 2022, aimed at restoring damaged ecosystems and bringing nature back across the European Union (EU). This became known as the draft Nature Restoration Law.

Further information:

The draft Regulation sets out an overarching objective: to contribute to the continuous, long-term and sustained recovery of biodiverse and resilient nature across the EU's land and sea areas by restoring ecosystems and to contribute to achieving EU climate mitigation and climate adaptation objectives and meet its international commitments. In order to achieve this, the proposal sets multiple binding restoration targets and obligations across a broad range of ecosystems.

These measures should cover at least 20% of the EU's land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. The draft law is further supported by an implementation framework to translate the objectives into action, by preparing and carrying out National Restoration Plans.

The draft Regulation was adopted by the European Commission on 22 June 2022 as part of a so-called nature protection package. It delivered on elements of the European Green Deal, in particular the commitment within the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 for leadership on reversing biodiversity loss and restoring nature. It was also seen as a key contribution on a post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

The Council of the European Union adopted its general approach to this draft law on 20 June 2023. Following the rejection of a proposed negotiating position at committee level on 27 June, the plenary of the European Parliament adopted its approach on 12 July.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF): Biodiversity: Towards an EU law to restore nature https://www.wwf.eu/what_we_do/biodiversity/nature_restoration/

Euronews, 02/06/2022: Nature restoration: Why climate activists have high hopes for the EU https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/06/02/nature-restoration-why-climate-activists-have-high-hopes-for-the-eu

Corporate Europe Observatory: Press Release, 16/06/2022: Nature and human health cannot afford policy delays https://corporateeurope.org/en/2022/06/nature-and-human-health-cannot-afford-policy-delays

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF): News, 22/06/2022: EU nature restoration law: Huge opportunity to fight biodiversity and climate crises https://www.wwf.eu/?6898416/EU-nature-restoration-law-Huge-opportunity-to-fight-biodiversity-and-climate-crises

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): News, 22/06/2022: EU Nature Restoration Law: A boost for biodiversity and climate https://www.iucn.org/news/europe/202206/eu-nature-restoration-law-a-boost-biodiversity-and-climate

BirdLife International: Press Release, 22/06/2022: EU nature restoration law – Huge opportunity to fight biodiversity and climate crises https://www.birdlife.org/news/2022/06/22/press-release-eu-nature-restoration-law-huge-opportunity-to-fight-biodiversity-and-climate-crises-ngo-reaction/

Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP): Publications, 22/06/2022: The proposed EU Nature Restoration Regulation: The path to nature's recovery https://ieep.eu/publications/the-proposed-eu-nature-restoration-regulation-the-path-to-nature-s-recovery

FERN: News, 22/06/2022: Nature restoration law offers hope for EU's stricken forests https://www.fern.org/publications-insight/nature-restoration-law-offers-hope-for-eus-stricken-forests-2521/

EurActiv: Opinion, 23/06/2022: Europe’s nature restoration journey can begin https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/opinion/europes-nature-restoration-journey-can-begin/

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 02/12/2022: Regulation on nature restoration https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)734702

WorldWide Fund for Nature (WWF), 15/12/2022: The EU Nature Restoration Law knocks on the Environment Council’s door https://www.wwf.eu/?8455466/The-EU-Nature-Restoration-Law-knocks-on-the-Environment-Councils-door

Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP): Publications, 12/01/2023: Benefits of nature restoration: A new series of policy briefs https://ieep.eu/publications/benefits-of-nature-restoration-a-new-series-of-policy-briefs/

Greens/EFA EP Group: Opinion, 14/03/2023: Bring back nature: why we need a strong EU Nature Restoration Law https://www.greens-efa.eu/opinions/why-we-need-a-strong-eu-nature-restoration-law/

Climate Action Network (CAN Europe): Policy Briefing, 21/04/2023: Forests in the Nature Restoration Law https://caneurope.org/forests-in-the-nature-restoration-law/

Politico, 25/05/2023: How repairing nature became the EU’s most contentious green project https://www.politico.eu/article/how-repairing-nature-became-the-eus-most-contentious-green-project/

Wind Europe: Press Release, 06/06/2023: Nature restoration and wind energy go hand in hand https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/nature-restoration-and-wind-energy-go-hand-in-hand/

Euronews, 14/06/2023: The European Green Deal faces its moment of truth: nature restoration https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/06/14/the-european-green-deal-faces-its-moment-of-truth-nature-restoration

European Policy Centre (EPC): Flash Analysis, 14/06/2023: The EU’s Nature Restoration Law: The bigger picture at stake https://www.epc.eu/en/publications/The-EUs-Nature-Restauration-Law-The-bigger-picture-at-stake~517d54

ClientEarth: Press Release, 20/06/2023: Member States to European Parliament: Europe needs a Nature Restoration Law now! https://www.clientearth.org/latest/press-office/press/member-states-to-european-parliament-europe-needs-a-nature-restoration-law-now/

Reuters: Commentary, 21/06/2023: Why business leaders are calling on the EU to pass the Nature Restoration Law https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/land-use-biodiversity/comment-why-business-leaders-are-calling-eu-pass-nature-restoration-law-2023-06-21/

Verfassungsblog, 23/06/2023: Addressing Legal Myths about the Proposed EU Nature Restoration Law https://verfassungsblog.de/addressing-legal-myths-about-the-proposed-eu-nature-restoration-law/

Le Monde, 27/06/2023: Climate and biodiversity: The crucial issues in the European nature restoration law https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2023/06/27/climate-and-biodiversity-the-crucial-issues-in-the-european-nature-restoration-law_6037963_114.html

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource (IUCN), 04/07/2023: IUCN statement on the EU Nature Restoration Law https://www.iucn.org/iucn-statement/202307/iucn-statement-eu-nature-restoration-law

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 05/07/2023: Nature restoration regulation https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2023)751389

France24: Talking Europe, 07/07/2023: Deadlock on EU nature restoration law 'a tragedy': Bioenergy scientist Andre Faaij https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/talking-europe/20230707-deadlock-on-eu-nature-restoration-law-a-tragedy-bioenergy-scientist-andre-faaij

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 10/07/2023: EU nature restoration regulation: Setting binding targets for healthy ecosystems https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)738183

Nature Journal: Correspondence, 11/07/2023: Nature restoration: proposed EU law under threat https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02228-x

Social Europe, 14/07/2023: We only have one planet left to save https://www.socialeurope.eu/we-only-have-one-planet-left-to-save

Euro|topics, July 2023: EU: debate over the passing of the nature restoration law https://www.eurotopics.net/en/304248/

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News

EurActiv, 10/06/2022: EU plans law to reverse decades of biodiversity loss https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/eu-plans-law-to-reverse-decades-of-biodiversity-loss/

The Guardian, 22/06/2022: EU plan to halve use of pesticides in ‘milestone’ legislation to restore ecosystems https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/22/eu-legislation-restoration-ecosystems-biodiversity-aoe

EUObserver, 24/05/2023: Double rejection for EU flagship nature restoration plan https://euobserver.com/green-economy/157071

EUObserver, 12/06/2023: Big businesses back EU nature restoration law, after EPP attack https://euobserver.com/green-economy/157133

RTÉ News, 14/06/2023: Divided opinions on the EU's Nature Restoration Law https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/0614/1389002-eu-nature-law/

Associated Press (AP News), 15/06/2023: EU nature restoration law narrowly survives attack by conservative lawmakers https://apnews.com/article/european-green-deal-climate-environment-2e23f134d93d9fa65ed2252f54d9a600

The Irish Times, 15/06/2023: Nature-restoration law narrowly survives in European Parliament https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/climate-crisis/2023/06/15/nature-restoration-law-narrowly-survives-in-european-parliament/

Euronews, 20/06/2023: EU countries vote to move forward with Nature Restoration Law, piling further pressure on MEPs https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/06/20/eu-countries-vote-to-move-forward-with-nature-restoration-law-piling-further-pressure-on-m

EurActiv, 21/06/2023: EU environment ministers greenlight position on Nature Restoration Law https://www.euractiv.com/section/biodiversity/news/eu-environment-ministers-greenlight-position-on-nature-restoration-law/

EurActiv: Special Reports, 26/06/2023: Restoring Europe’s forests https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/special_report/restoring-europes-forests/

Euronews, 27/06/2023: MEPs of environment committee vote down the Nature Restoration Law, throwing its survival into doubt https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/06/27/meps-vote-down-the-nature-restoration-law-throwing-its-survival-into-doubt

EurActiv, 10/07/2023: Timmermans: EU climate goals ‘hinge on’ success of nature restoration law https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/timmermans-eu-climate-goals-hinge-on-success-of-nature-restoration-law/

France24, 11/07/2023: Backlash against Nature Restoration Law shows deep divides in European Parliament https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230711-backlash-against-nature-restoration-law-shows-deep-divides-in-european-parliament

The Guardian, 12/07/2023: EU passes nature restoration law in knife-edge vote https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/12/eu-passes-nature-restoration-law-vote-meps

Euronews, 12/07/2023: Nature Restoration Law survives knife-edge vote in the European Parliament amid right-wing backlash https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/07/12/nature-restoration-law-survives-knife-edge-vote-in-the-european-parliament-amid-right-wing

CNN News, 12/07/2023: Europe agrees landmark nature and climate deal after tense negotiations https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/12/europe/eu-nature-restoration-law-climate-intl/index.html

Greenpeace: Press Release, 12/07/2023: EU Parliament backs landmark law to restore Europe’s nature https://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/issues/climate-energy/46743/eu-parliament-backs-landmark-law-to-restore-europes-nature/

Deutsche Welle, 12/07/2023: EU lawmakers pass nature restoration bill in razor-thin vote https://p.dw.com/p/4TlXH

The New York Times, 12/07/2023: After a Bitter Fight, European Lawmakers Pass a Bill to Repair Nature https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/12/climate/europe-nature-restoration-law.html

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Official

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)167: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:167:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)168: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:168:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Nature restoration (2022/0195(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2022/0195(COD)

European Commission: DG Environment: Topics: Nature restoration law https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/nature-restoration-law_en

General Secretariat of the Council: Policies: Nature Restoration https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/nature-restoration/

European Commission: Public Consultations: Protecting biodiversity: nature restoration targets under EU biodiversity strategy https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12596-Protecting-biodiversity-nature-restoration-targets-under-EU-biodiversity-strategy_en

European Commission: Press Release, 22/06/2022: Green Deal: pioneering proposals to restore Europe's nature by 2050 and halve pesticide use by 2030 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_3746

European Commission: Questions and Answers on Nature Restoration Law: restoring ecosystems for people, climate and planet (22 June 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_3747

European Commission: Press conference by Executive Vice-President Timmermans and Commissioners Kyriakides and Sinkevičius on the Nature Restoration Law and the Commission's proposal to halve the use of pesticides by 2030 (22 June 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_22_3968

Greens/EFA EP Group: Press Release, 22/06/2022: Nature restoration to bring back bees & bird song https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/press/nature-restoration-to-bring-back-bees-bird-song

RTÉ News, 22/06/2022: Proposed new law aims to restore damaged ecosystems https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2022/0622/1306372-nature-restoration-law/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 20/06/2023: Council reaches agreement on the nature restoration law https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/06/20/council-reaches-agreement-on-the-nature-restoration-law/

Irish Government: Press Release, 20/06/2023: Ireland votes in favour of Nature Restoration Law at EU Council meeting https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/2794a-ireland-votes-in-favour-of-nature-restoration-law-at-eu-council-meeting/

S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 27/06/2023: In tight vote, Nature Restoration Law rejected despite obvious benefits for people and planet https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/tight-vote-nature-restoration-law-rejected-despite-obvious-benefits-people-and-planet

GUE/NGL EP Group: News, 27/06/2023: 50/50 split on the Nature Restoration Law - fight goes on https://left.eu/50-50-split-on-the-nature-restoration-law/

EPP EP Group: Newsroom, 06/07/2023: Start over with the Nature Restoration Law https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/opinions/start-over-with-the-nature-restoration-law

European Parliament: Press Release, 12/07/2023: Nature restoration law: MEPs adopt position for negotiations with Council https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230707IPR02433/

Renew Europe EP Group: Newsroom, 12/07/2023: Nature Restoration Law: Renew Europe broke the deadlock and delivered for nature https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2023-07-12/nature-restoration-law-renew-europe-broke-the-deadlock-and-delivered-for-nature

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