EU's Land and Sea Restoration Law UPSC

Description

NATURE RESTORATION LAW

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Picture Courtesy: https://www.restoration-ecology.hu/l/the-nature-restoration-law-challenges-for-the-scientific-community/

Context: The European Parliament passed a new law aiming to restore degraded ecosystems across the European Union.

Details

The European Parliament has taken a significant step towards environmental protection by adopting the first-ever EU law dedicated to restoring degraded ecosystems across its member states.

Key provisions of the law

Restoration Targets: The law sets a target for the EU to restore at least 20% of its land and sea areas by 2030, with a broader goal of restoring all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.
Peatland Restoration: EU members are required to restore specific percentages of drained peatland, with targets set at 30% by 2030, 40% by 2040, and 50% by 2050.
Biodiversity in Agricultural Ecosystems: To enhance biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems, EU countries must make progress in indicators such as the grassland butterfly index, the share of agricultural land with high-diversity landscape features, and the stock of organic carbon in cropland mineral soil. Measures to increase the common farmland bird index are also mandated.
Suspension of Targets: The law allows for the suspension of targets for agricultural ecosystems under exceptional circumstances if they significantly impact the land required for sufficient food production for EU consumption.
Forest Ecosystems: Positive trends in several indicators in forest ecosystems are required, along with a commitment to plant an additional three billion trees.
River Restoration: EU nations are mandated to restore at least 25,000 km of rivers into free-flowing rivers.
Urban Green Space: There should be no net loss in the total national area of urban green space and urban tree canopy cover.
Adoption Process: The law, initially proposed by the European Commission in June 2022, went through a legislative process. It faced amendments and challenges before being approved by the European Parliament. It will now need to be adopted by the European Council before being published in the EU Official Journal and entering into force.

European Union (EU)
Category	Description
Purpose and Goals	A unique economic and political union promoting peace, democratic values, economic cooperation, and the well-being of citizens within its member states.
History	Formed post-World War II to foster economic cooperation and prevent future conflicts. Originally called the European Economic Community (EEC), it evolved into the EU with the Maastricht Treaty in 1993.
Structure	Operates through a system of supranational institutions and intergovernmental-negotiated decisions by member states. Key institutions include: ●European Parliament: Elected legislative body representing citizens. ●European Council: Heads of state or government of member states, setting overall direction. ●Council of the European Union: Main decision-making body along with the Parliament. ●European Commission: Executive body proposing legislation and managing EU policies. ●Court of Justice of the EU: Ensures EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly.
Membership	Currently 27 member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
Policies	Covers a wide range of areas, including: ●Single Market: Free movement of goods, services, people, and capital. ●Common Agricultural Policy (CAP): Subsidies, and support programs for farmers. ●Eurozone: Countries using the euro as their currency. ●Environmental Protection: Climate change, energy, pollution control. ●Foreign Policy and Security: Common diplomatic and defence initiatives. ●Justice and Home Affairs: Collaboration on policing, immigration, and asylum.
Achievements	Long period of peace and stability in Europe. Creation of a large single market. Introduction of the euro. Free movement of citizens across borders. Strong environmental and consumer protection standards.

Conclusion

The European Parliament's adoption of the landmark environmental law marks a significant step towards restoring degraded ecosystems and promoting biodiversity across the EU. With clear targets and measures in place, this law underscores the bloc's commitment to environmental sustainability and lays the groundwork for a more resilient and ecologically balanced future.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. The European Union (EU) has fostered peace and prosperity in Europe since its inception. However, critics argue that it infringes on national sovereignty, hinders economic growth, and struggles to address the diverse interests of its member states. To what extent do these criticisms hold weight, and how can the EU address these concerns while maintaining its core objectives?