One Voice is calling for the European law to restore nature to be passed

In June, Members of Parliament from the ENVI Committee failed twice to agree on the law on restoring nature. The scope of the law was even reduced over the course of discussions, with a reduction in the revision of the global objective, the deletion of the article for restoring forest ecosystems, and even a limit on restoration actions in Natura 2000 areas.

A diluted but not abandoned draft law

During the two committee votes, on 15 and 27 June, the political parties present were found to be the same. The draft law was thus narrowly saved, but we are very disappointed that it was not supported enthusiastically by the whole ENVI Committee.

On 15 June, the day of the first vote, the attack by the Parti Populaire Européen [PPE – European People’s Party] (a centre-right group) was also particularly virulent: they had replaced four members of their group, who were in favour of the draft law and who could have swung the vote, by four others who were not. The Committee eventually refused the amendment, asking for a pure and simple rejection of the law due to a draw, with 44 votes for and 44 votes against. And on 27 June, during the final vote on the law’s preliminary report, the Committee once again failed to obtain an absolute majority. The law was therefore saved, but we did not get a victory.

A violent opposition

The opposition of conservatives, who accused the project of harming food safety despite their arguments having been rejected by scientists, do not condemn the law to failure, however. The passing of the law in plenary by the European Parliament on 12 July will offer elected representatives the chance to speak out for a more coherent and ambitious law and to show their support for the European Green Deal. While temperatures continue to climb and biodiversity is demolished, taking strong measures on a European level is necessary.

«Conservative elected representatives’ refusal to work for what they have been elected for, namely, to pass strong laws to fight against the biodiversity and climate crises, is disappointing to say the least. This assessment is particularly pertinent after the powerful message from the Council, who took a stance on the Law for the Restoration of Nature last week and invited the European Parliament to follow up on negotiating said law. We urge our elected representatives to respond to this invitation and to take a strong position in plenary immediately.»Sergiy Moroz, Policy Manager for Water and Biodiversity at the European Environmental Bureau (EBB)

A single voice for all living things

For months on end, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), which One Voice is a member of, has been rallying against global warming, the loss of biodiversity, and pollution, and asking for this law to be passed, not only to restore nature but also in accordance with our well-being and a genuine reflection on the social aspect, in the context of a global crisis. This positioning is in agreement with our fight to protect all living things. Since 2018, we have actively participated in climate marches. And last May, we were in Stockholm for the Common Future Conference: for a European Green Deal 2 organised by the EEB, where the main priorities of the work were set out for the years to come.

On 11 July, a rally will take place in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg from 8am to 9am. The collective representing the EEB and our partners WWF, BirdLife, and ClientEarth will also be there to officially hand over almost one million messages sent to Members of the European Parliament during our #RestoreNature campaign.

The following day, in plenary, we will call on MEPs to vote in favour of a future for all.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice