The European Union needs legally binding measures to protect nature and biodiversity, the European Parliament said on Tuesday, adding that voluntary plans have failed.
Parliament adopted the resolution “EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives”, addressing the current biodiversity crisis in Europe and the rest of the world.
To back this ambition, they call for an EU Biodiversity Law similar to the EU Climate Law. The EU wants to halve the use of chemical pesticides, cut fertiliser use by 20% and expand protected areas of land and sea by 2030.
Previous plans have failed to stop destroying natural habitats for unsustainable farming and urbanisation. Most of Europe’s protected habitats and species have a poor or bad conservation status.
Scientists said that to stop the decline of nature, 30% of the planet’s natural areas should be protected from destruction for commercial use. Parliament said the EU should push to make that 30% pledge legally binding.
Brussels also wants to build momentum ahead of a global summit on biodiversity in China in October, where nearly 200 countries will negotiate a new agreement to protect nature.
