What went into the EU’s approval of the nature law: summary

What we know:

A flagship law requiring European countries to introduce measures to restore nature on a fifth of their lands and seas by 2030 has been approved by the European Parliament.

The law which is the EU’s biggest environmental legislation faced fierce political backlash since the European Commission proposed it in 2022 with Centre-right lawmakers attempting to scrap it completely. They subsequently won changes to weaken parts of the law with the goal of introducing more trees, ponds, and other biodiverse features to farmland.

The law was approved on February 27 despite weeks of farmers’ protests across Europe including recent protests outside the European Union’s headquarters in Brussels. Farmers among other things were protesting EU green policies which according to them impose excessive bureaucracy on them.

The law passed despite the European People’s Party lawmaker group’s last-minute decision to oppose it. It was approved with 329 votes in favour, 275 against, and 24 abstentions.

The law will need final approval from EU countries for implementation to begin.

What they said:

EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius said the policy aims to reverse a decline of the continent’s natural habitats including targets to restore peatlands so they can absorb CO2 emissions. It was the EU’s “concrete contribution to preserve biodiversity, precious ecosystems, healthy soils and waters – first and foremost for farmers,” Reuters quoted Sinkevicius.