European Parliament Votes to Restore Degraded Natural Ecosystems

The European Parliament has voted to pass a fiercely contested law to restore degraded natural ecosystems, salvaging the environmental measures that centre-right lawmakers had campaigned to kill off.

On Wednesday, EU lawmakers adopted the legal proposal with 336 votes in favour, 300 against, and 13 abstentions.

Negotiations between lawmakers and member countries will now take place to achieve a final agreement before the EU Parliament elections in 2024.

The new legislation will require countries to introduce measures to restore nature on a fifth of their land and sea by 2030, reversing the decline of Europe’s natural habitats, 81% of which are currently in poor health.

This law has been welcomed by scientists, businesses, the agricultural sector, and young people such as Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who attended the EU assembly to observe the vote.

However, some government leaders have warned that Europe is pushing through too many environmental laws as part of its overall green agenda.

The European People’s Party (EPP), the European Parliament’s biggest lawmaker group, led a campaign to reject the plan on the grounds that it would harm farmers and endanger food security.

The EPP group also denied accusations of using misinformation to court votes before EU Parliament elections next year.

Cesar Luena, the parliament’s lead negotiator on the law, said that “this law is not against anybody.

This is a law on behalf of nature, not against any person whatsoever.” He thanked scientists and young people for their support of the law.

The European Union has already passed dozens of CO2-cutting laws to deliver its overall green agenda, including its goal to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

But recent environmental proposals have faced resistance, particularly those that require changes from farmers to tackle environmental pollution and the collapse of bee and butterfly populations.

The European Parliament's decision to pass this fiercely contested law to restore degraded natural ecosystems marks a major victory for the environment.

It is a reminder that while there are a range of opinions on how to best deliver the EU's green agenda, its commitment to restoring nature and achieving net zero emissions by 2050 will remain strong.