Nature vs. Now
4 years, 10 months, 10 days, 9 hours
13 September 2024
‘The end of the world versus the end of the month’ is a rather dramatic, perhaps overly polar, but succinct framing of the tension that can exist between the actions that need to be taken to protect the world’s long-term sustainability and the impact they may have on the livelihoods of individuals and communities today.
It was referenced apparently repeatedly in the drawn-out negotiations of the EU Nature Restoration Law which took effect last month, with thanks to Wout Steurs for bringing it to my attention.
The law is far reaching in its ambition. It mandates EU countries to restore 20% of natural land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need by 2050. Which is expected to mean restoration of at least 30% of terrestrial, coastal, freshwater, and marine ecosystems from ‘poor’ to ‘good’ condition. The most affected sectors are agriculture, forestry, fishery, and energy, and it was backlash from the farming sector, amplified by broader political tensions in some EU states, which caused the delay in the vote in the Council of the EU. It is however notable that it has now passed – yet another example of the EU’s leadership in sustainability legislation.
Member States will have two years to submit draft plans to the European Commission, and the European Environment Agency will monitor and report on progress. But yet again the EU’s intent goes beyond the borders of the block, with an explicit objective that other regions including Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia will copy.
The excellent Eurasia Group commentary that Wout forwarded to me asserted rather dispiritingly that ongoing opposition from farmers in some countries, and funding constraints would mean ‘the NRL targets are unlikely to be met’. But I think it is far too soon to draw such a depressing conclusion. What matters for now is that once again the EU has shown that it is willing to run the gauntlet of short-term political pressures for the longer-term good, and the ball is now in the court of each Member State to show the same mettle.