In today’s memorable meeting, the EU Council approved the Nature Restoration Law, making it a reality for millions of European citizens and a true step to reverse the massive environmental degradation and biodiversity loss we are witnessing today.
With 20 countries supporting the law and only 7 abstaining or opposing (Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, Finland and The Netherlands), thanks to the last-minute change of position of Austria, Member States went through with their previous promises and listened to science and EU citizens.
The youth has tirelessly advocated for the adoption of this pivotal legislation over the past three years, joining forces to battle the massive disinformation around nature restoration carried out by conservative political forces and interest groups.
For us, the law has always been about saving our ecosystems and species but also about intergenerational justice and democracy. This milestone of EU legislation will ensure compliance with international agreements like the Convention on Biological Diversity (ahead of COP16) to protect our environment for future generations.
Now, it is time to make this law happen on the ground. The final text has been heavily watered down throughout the process, and it is of the utmost importance that Member States fulfill the obligations they just committed themselves to. We, as European youth, will continue to advocate for ambitious national restoration plans that ensure young voices are included in these efforts.
