Nature Restoration Law survives knife-edge vote in the European Parliament amid right-wing backlash

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🗞️ Driving the news: The Nature Restoration Law, a vital part of the EU's Green Deal, narrowly survived a tense vote in the European Parliament, gaining 336 votes in favor and 300 against with 13 abstentions

🔭 The context: The Nature Restoration Law, which aims to restore 20% of Europe's degraded ecosystems by 2030, had been the target of fierce opposition, particularly from the European People's Party (EPP)
• The EPP claimed the law would jeopardize the livelihoods of European farmers and fishers, disrupt supply chains, and increase consumer prices, among other concerns

🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: If implemented the Nature Restoration Law will enforce binding targets in seven fields of action such as farmlands, peatlands, pollinators, and sea bottoms
• This law is critical to reversing environmental damage caused by unchecked human activity and climate change

⏭️ What's next: The law returns to the parliament's environment committee, where it had been previously tied at a 44-44 vote
• Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will negotiate with member states on fine-tuning provisions and crafting a compromise text for endorsement by both co-legislators

💬 One quote: "This law is good for even those who voted against it. I want to especially thank the scientists and the youth because they convinced us that we need to have this law. And we're going to have it!" (César Luena, socialist lawmaker and rapporteur)

📈 One stat: Despite the European People's Party (EPP) strong opposition, the parliamentary records show that 21 EPP lawmakers defied party instructions and voted in favour of the entire text
• The law aims to restore at least 20% of Europe's degraded ecosystems by 2030

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