The 21st century is often described as the urban century, with over half of the world’s population currently living in cities and more than 70% projected to do so by 2050[1]. In the EU, 75% of the population already lives in urban areas. Meanwhile, biodiversity faces severe threats: over three-quarters of all land is significantly impacted by human activities, and more than 70% of wildlife has been lost since the 1970s[2]. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) predicts an unprecedented decline in biodiversity in the coming decades[3].
As urban areas expand, key natural spaces and species are disappearing. The growth of urbanisation and the loss of habitats due to increased consumption of land, water, timber, and energy are major drivers of biodiversity loss[4]. However, urban areas depend on healthy ecosystems for numerous benefits, such as oxygen production, pollination, and water filtration. They also host a high number of flora and fauna species, 70% of which are endemic to these areas[5].
As the largest coalition of youth-led networks – bringing together 381 national organisations across 46 countries in Europe – on climate and environmental issues at the EU level, Generation Climate Europe (GCE) is committed to making the voices of young people heard and believes that there is a need to restore nature in EU urban areas. With this fact sheet, we aim to provide a brief overview of the issue, empowering youth to become knowledgeable and active advocates for biodiverse cities within the EU.
