Biodiversity

We are currently living through the first human-made mass extinction event. We are losing species at a rate 10 000 times greater than at any other time in recorded human history, and one million species face extinction. There are numerous drivers: habitat loss, global warming, pollution, industrialisation, soil erosion – and all are human-caused. 

It is vital that all living beings on our planet are safe, protected, and their intrinsic value recognised. Biodiversity protection is crucial as it supports human well-being, culture, society, and economy whilst providing us with nature-based solutions to tackle climate change. Europe, with the majority of habitats and species in poor or bad conservation status, is no exception to the issue. At the EU level, the new Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and related upcoming legislation (e.g., Nature Restoration Plan, the Forest Strategy, and the revision of the EU Wildlife Action Plan) are building the momentum necessary for actual change.

Projects

Nature Restoration

The EU has failed to meet the Aichi Targets and the Biodiversity Strategy 2020 targets. Within the Biodiversity Strategy for 2020, the EU has failed to restore at least 15% of all ecosystems in bad conditions by 2020. Moreover, 81% of all protected habitats and 63% of all species are in bad conditions. Protecting nature is no longer sufficient. Restoration must be made a priority. It must be restored and brought back to its initial state, to regenerate ecosystems and bring back endemic species into their natural habitats. Nature restoration will also provide food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation measures and will halt biodiversity loss.

In order to halt biodiversity loss, the European Commission published a proposal for a new EU Nature Restoration Regulation in June of 2022. The Regulation will be reviewed, voted on by the European Parliament and Council by mid-2023, and adopted by the end of 2023. However, so far, the Nature Restoration Law has largely omitted youth as important rights holders and contributors to nature restoration.

Aims:

  • Actively engage young people and youth organisations in the development and adoption of the Nature Restoration Law
  • Advocate towards the European Parliament and the Council on the Nature Restoration Law placing an emphasis on young people and youth engagement.

Policies addressed:

Nature Restoration Law

Deliverables:

  • Organise a European Parliament Youth Dialogue on the Nature Restoration Law
  • Develop a policy paper following the European Parliament Youth Dialogue on the key youth priorities and policy recommendations
  • Organise meetings with relevant decision-makers regarding nature restoration law
  • Organise an event that focuses on national restoration plans
  • Develop a series of social media posts on nature restoration for different types of ecosystems

EU Biodiversity Strategy

We are currently going through a human-made sixth mass extinction. The largest problems that Europe has encountered in recent years are climate change impacts on nature, forest fires, and nature degradation. In response, the Biodiversity Strategy 2030 was adopted by the EU in 2020 as part of the European Green Deal. It incorporates an ambitious set of targets which aim to protect and restore Europe’s ecosystems by 2030. These targets range from protecting forests to pollinator conservation, both crucial for ecological diversity.

Aims:

  • Raise awareness among young people in the EU on biodiversity loss and the resulting sixth mass extinction as well as the role of youth in the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy.
  • Advocate on challenges the EU is still facing regarding the implementation of its 2030 Biodiversity Strategy

Policies addressed:

EU Biodiversity Strategy

Deliverables:

  • Develop a series of social media posts on the current challenges the EU is facing related to biodiversity loss and the related actions of the Biodiversity Strategy 2030 in tackling this matter.
  • Organise an event with young people and youth ENGOs about the Biodiversity Strategy 2030
  • Draft a position paper on the implementation of the Biodiversity strategy 2030 and share with the relevant decision-makers
  • Organise meetings with relevant decision-makers regarding the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030

Nature -based solutions

Nature-based solutions have shown to be viable and efficient solutions to tackle climate change and its impacts on nature and humans. It is important to consider nature-based solutions as part of the process of climate change mitigation and adaptation policies. Nature-based solutions are efficient measures used to integrate nature in different settings, such as cities and rural areas. As urbanisation is growing, it is expected that by 2050, 70% of all Europeans will live in cities. Cities will become overpopulated and citizens will be in need for cleaner air. Therefore, nature-based solutions can be seen as a solution to reducing the carbon footprint in cities, having cleaner air as well as promoting carbon sinks, blue and green infrastructures and green care.

Aims:

  • Raise awareness and increase capacity of young people on nature-based solutions, focusing in particular on the benefits of nature-based solutions and best practices for resilient, healthier, rewilded and greener environments.
  • Advocate for increased implementation of nature based solutions with an active engagement of youth, in particular in the EU cities.

Policies addressed:

European Green Deal, EU Adaptation Strategy

Deliverables:

  • Develop a series of social media posts on nature-based solutions
  • Organise two workshops for young people and youth organisations on the benefits, good practices and resources on nature-based solutions
  • Write a letter to the local decision-makers of key European cities calling them to integrate nature-based solutions into their urban planning strategies with an active engagement of youth
  • Organise meetings with local decision-makers of key European cities on the importance of nature-based solutions with an active role of youth