22 June 2022 - Today the European Commission published its proposal on the Nature Restoration Law. CLG Europe welcomes the new Nature Restoration Law proposal as a “missing piece of the European Green Deal”, suggesting the new legislation has the potential to increase European environmental and economic resilience. The Commission’s proposal sets multiple binding restoration targets across ecosystems and aims to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and foresees all ecosystems in need of restoration to be addressed by 2050.
Ursula Woodburn, Head of EU Relations, CLG Europe said: “What has been announced today is a key missing piece of the European Green Deal, setting out a path to addressing the climate and nature crises that threaten our security and our economy. We welcome the Commission’s proposed Nature Restoration Law and the upcoming Czech presidency’s commitment to prioritising this complex issue.
“Businesses rely on nature to continue their operations. They need strong restoration targets and policies to tackle the devastating impacts of climate change that are already threatening food and production systems. The Nature Restoration proposal has the potential to increase the resilience of Europe and its economy.”
Joe Franses, Vice President Sustainability, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners said: “The preservation of natural ecosystems is key to the long-term success and sustainability of businesses like ours. We are committed to restoring and enhancing biodiversity and clear policy direction from the EU Commission will be critical to the future protection of our food systems, ensuring long-term food security and supporting climate mitigation.”
Eric Soubeiran, Vice President of Climate & Nature Fund, Unilever said: “Biodiversity decline has a devastating impact on our planet and people’s access to food, as well as disrupting the supply of raw materials needed by global businesses like ours. That’s why protecting and restoring nature is now increasingly a matter of business resilience, continuity, and social justice. Unilever is taking part with its €1bn Climate and Nature Fund created in 2020 focusing on the preservation of nature and the fight against climate change. We therefore support the EU’s nature restoration targets that cannot be delayed any longer.”
Dr Gemma Cranston, Director, Business & Nature, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) said: “We welcome the nature restoration targets set today by the Commission which can, amid the accelerating impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, steer agriculture and development in a more sustainable direction. Enhancement of nature is the de facto long-term food security strategy, and needs to be tackled systematically and collaboratively. A collective approach to land management that works alongside nature to improve the natural environment can benefit multiple stakeholders, including farmers, business and local communities, and offer solutions to the climate and nature crisis.”