EU ministers approve contested Nature Restoration Law

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🗞️ Driving the news: Ministers from 20 EU member states have approved the Nature Restoration Law, which aims to restore natural habitats across the continent
• The law seeks to regrow forests, re-wet moors, and return rivers to their natural states, despite controversy over potential restrictions on farmers

🔭 The context: The European Parliament passed the law earlier this year
• Austria's climate minister, Leonore Gewessler, broke ranks with her conservative coalition partners to support the law, ensuring its approval
• Opponents include Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, and Sweden

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The law is designed to combat biodiversity loss and improve the health of Europe's natural habitats, with targets to restore 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need by 2050
• Healthy ecosystems are vital for carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation

⏭️What's next: Member states are now tasked with restoring at least 30% of the habitats covered by the law from poor to good condition by 2030, increasing to 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050
• The implementation will likely face political and logistical challenges

💬 One quote: "We are still on track to reverse the biodiversity loss, let's now start work together and show that EU is still leading the way," said Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius on X

📈 One stat: The law sets a target for the EU to restore at least 20% of its land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050

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