Nature as we know it is heading towards extinction. And it’s because of human activity. Logging, intensive agriculture and overfishing have pushed one million animal and plant species to the point where they’re hanging by a thread. The European Commission will propose a new law to make nature restoration legally binding for EU countries. But as it stands, there is no definition of what this will actually mean.
Right now, the Commission is asking the public to give their opinion on what nature restoration across the EU should look like, which is open for feedback until the 5th of April 2021. Restoration is making sure that habitats are returned to the healthy condition they used to be in, it is about recovering the biodiversity we have lost and protecting it for future generations.
BirdLife Europe, the European Environmental Bureau and WWF European Policy Office, have now launched #RestoreNature – a campaign demanding to restore nature across Europe now. Their message to the European Commission is simple: Only through meaningful, transformative change at land and sea can we bring back the biodiversity we desperately need. It will help us to mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis, and prevent the future spread of diseases.
Through their #RestoreNature campaign citizens from both within and outside the EU can demand that the EU develops a good law that can help reverse the fate of nature in Europe, and beyond and start giving land, sea and water back to nature.
This is the chance to ensure the youth voice is heard in what the law looks like for our future. This is about healing the damage already done, so while not caused by young people, we have a responsibility to ensure we do not repeat past mistakes and build a healthy relationship with the planet we share.
Ecosystems across the EU have been degraded and damaged, and the lack of legal protection has only sped this up. Hence, this is a major opportunity for young people to push for the European Commission to get the new law right, and in line with the 2030 Biodiversity Strategy. We must #RestoreNature now. Our planet depends on it.
What is GCE doing and how can you help?
- Sign for change. BirdLife Europe, the European Environmental Bureau and WWF European Policy Office, are running a campaign to achieve 100,000 signatures on their petition. You can easily look at their ideas and add your name to it here: restorenature.eu.
- Answer our survey. GCE will be launching a survey very soon to get your thoughts on the restoration law. This takes up to 3 minutes, and you don’t need any current knowledge of the law.
- Stay up to date. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to stay in touch and get the latest on our projects.
