EU’s Nature Restoration Plan Put on Indefinite Hold

A major European Union plan to better protect nature in the 27-nation bloc and fight climate change was indefinitely postponed on Monday, The Associated Press reported (3-25-24).

The Nature Restoration Law is a component of the EU’s European Green Deal, which seeks to establish the world’s most ambitious climate and biodiversity targets and make the bloc the global point of reference on all climate issues. The bill is part of an overall project that aims for Europe to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.

Under the plan, member states would have to meet restoration targets for specific habitats and species, covering at least 20% of the region’s land and sea areas by 2030.

The deadlock comes less than three months before the European Parliament election in June. Member states were supposed to give final approval to the biodiversity bill on Monday following months of proceedings through the EU’s institutional maze. But what was supposed to be a mere rubber stamp has now turned into its possible perpetual shelving.

The change of heart follows weeks of relentless protests from farmers across the bloc, The Associated Press reported.