EU passes landmark law to restore 20% of land and sea by 2030 despite fierce opposition
By Ruth Milka
Nation of Change
June 18, 2024
The European Union has passed a landmark nature restoration law after a narrow and contentious vote, aiming to restore 20% of the bloc’s land and sea by the end of the decade. This decision concludes months of deadlock amid fierce protests from farmers and significant political tension among member states.
The nature restoration law, a key element of the European Green Deal, sets ambitious targets to reverse environmental decline. It includes provisions to halt the decline of pollinator populations by 2030, restore drained peatlands, and plant at least 3 billion trees. The law’s passage marks a shift from merely protecting and conserving nature to actively restoring it.