The European Union is committed to a series of objectives related to the protection and defense of biodiversity By the end of this decade in the Strategy Biodiversity 2030. According to the latest report from an NGO, there is actually still a lot to do and it does not seem to be on the right track to achieve the planned goals.
A new report from BirdLife Europe and Central Asia shows that European Union (EU) countries are not on track to achieve the targets set by the EU to halt ecosystem degradation and achieve them by 2030 to restore. The EU set this goal almost five years ago, in its “EU Strategy for Biodiversity before 2030″, such as fundamental part of the EU Green Deal.
The Strategy aims to: biodiversity European Union on the road to recovery through specific measures and commitments. While progress has been made and notable successes have been achieved, such as the EU Nature Restoration Act – the first law of its kind for restoration of nature on a continental scale– this progress has been slow overall, so at the current pace it is very unlikely that the EU will achieve these targets by 2030.
The NGO report analyzes the current state of affairs with regard to the European objectives biodiversity. It provides an overview of the measures taken by the EU, the delays and the areas where their implementation has stalled or stopped completely. She also evaluates the role of policy makers in the slowness of the progress made. By assessing the concrete actions taken by the EU institutions since 2020 and comparing them with the 2019 organizational recommendations – issued during the development of the Strategy – the report provides a clear picture of how much remains to be done to deliver on the commitments to make it come true. by biodiversity of the EU.
What should be done for biodiversity in the EU?
– The Nature Restoration Act It sets a promising course, but to be successful it must be implemented. The Nature Recovery Act provides an essential framework for biodiversity in the EU, with the aim of restoring 20% of land and sea by 2030, as well as all those ecosystems in need by 2050. However, its impact depends on a strong and clear commitment of Member States to its implementation, as well as adequate financing.
– The The biodiversity crisis is worsening while the EU makes little progress: The loss rate of biodiversity continues to increase, which will clearly miss crucial conservation objectives for both habitats and species. Without stronger commitments from Member States, more rigorous implementation and sufficient resources, the EU will undoubtedly miss its target biodiversity by 2030 and will continue to fuel the current ecological crisis.
– The Scarcity of funds hinders action for biodiversity: The EU has not yet fulfilled its promise to allocate €20 billion annually biodiversity, biodiversity and conservation efforts rely on various funds, which have proven insufficient and are often poorly managed. Subsidies are harmful biodiversity continue to undermine the positive effects of nature restoration and conservation efforts biodiversity, biodiversity reduce its effectiveness.
Moreover, looking to the future, it does not appear that the EU will spend 10% of its budget on objectives of biodiversity in 2026 and 2027, despite the fact that this is laid down in the multi-year budget. There is currently no mechanism in the EU budget to address all these gaps and shortcomings. Current nature conservation funds, which cover only 1 percent of the EU budget between 2021 and 2027, are clearly insufficient to tackle the problems. the scale of the crisis we face.
According to a study by the European Commission, there is a growing financing gap for the biodiversity of approximately 20 billion euros per year until 2030. Meet the new financing needs is essential to closing this gap and achieving the objectives of biodiversity established by the EU.
– Him The current agricultural system leaves the EU in a dangerous status quo: The EU agricultural system is one of the main causes of the loss of biodiversity, biodiversity because it traps farmers in unsustainable practices and does not sufficiently encourage those who do biodiversity.
While some progress has been made in promoting organic farming, protecting pollinators and reducing pesticide use, recent political changes – especially the weakening of the Common Agricultural Policy – have undermined these achievements and, in particular, limited improved conditionality. eliminating commitments to earmark some agricultural land to non-productive elements that give preference biodiversity.
The decision of exempt farmers whose farms are less than 10 hectares in size of controls related to legal management requirements is also a significant setback, taking into account that they represent the largest part of Spain’s agricultural area.
– Marine ecosystems are in a clear situation of lack of protection: Europe’s marine ecosystems face serious threats due to insufficient protection, as for example less than 1% of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are strictly protected. Inadequate management and persistent, unsustainable practices undermine efforts to conserve these marine environments that are crucial to our future.
We have to do something NOW
“The European biodiversity is on the brink. We are running out of time to protect our ecosystems. Without this time, we have no chance to adapt to the effects of climate change and protect ourselves from increasing natural disasters. As the world mobilizes around bold commitments to address the loss of biodiversity, biodiversity The EU’s action on the ground is dangerously inadequate.
The widening gap between political promises and action on the ground is exacerbated by recent deregulation measures that risk rolling back protections essential to the recovery and sustenance of our economy. biodiversity. It is time for Europe to deliver on its promises: to strengthen, not weaken, its efforts to do so protect biodiversity and our common future«. These are statements by Anouk Puymartin, policy manager of the NGO.
The new report analyzes and breaks down the measures the EU has taken, as well as delays and areas where implementation has stalled or stopped completely. In short, it gives a very clear picture of how much still needs to be done to achieve this meet the biodiversity commitments it has made.