The European Union has introduced a groundbreaking regulation aimed at reversing the decline of urban green spaces, safeguarding biodiversity, and restoring natural habitats.
This regulation, effective from August 18, 2024, modifies the previous 2022 regulation on trans-European energy infrastructures.
It compels EU member states to take concrete actions to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems, thereby mitigating the effects of extreme weather events and natural disasters increasingly affecting Europe.
The regulation not only targets marine and terrestrial ecosystems but also aims to improve citizens' quality of life by directly involving urban areas.
Under the new rules, urban ecosystems are given special attention, with strict requirements for administrations to prevent any net loss of urban green spaces and tree cover until 2030.
This shift in perspective is intended to enhance urban livability by increasing green spaces.
Additionally, states are tasked with planting at least three billion additional trees by 2030.
The regulation faced significant opposition, with Italy, Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands, and Sweden voting against it.
However, a majority was achieved, and all member states are now obligated to comply with the new rules, which aim to restore at least 20% of the EU's terrestrial and marine areas by 2030 and all ecosystems by 2050.
Specifically, states must restore at least 30% of habitats in poor condition by 2030, 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050.
This is crucial for preventing natural disasters, mitigating climate change effects, ensuring food security, and curbing biodiversity loss in Europe.
The regulation also supports economic growth, as the European Commission notes that every euro spent on nature restoration can yield a return of over eight euros.
The European Central Bank highlights that approximately 72% of Eurozone companies rely on healthy ecosystems and biodiversity in agricultural, marine, and forest environments.
A continuous and sustainable recovery process is outlined, promoting more sustainable agricultural production.
National authorities are required to develop National Plans, considering regional diversity to identify necessary measures.
The approval process for these plans is detailed in Article 15, starting with research and monitoring, followed by quantifying the area of each habitat to be restored and identifying necessary resources and funding.
Urban areas, including city centers and agglomerations, and potentially peri-urban zones, must be included.
Brussels maintains oversight of these plans, with governments required to submit them by September 1, 2026.
The European Commission will evaluate and provide feedback, which states must address within six months.
The European Environment Agency will oversee the actual implementation.
Regarding costs, the regulation's preamble states that member states should incorporate restoration expenses into their budgets, with EU funding available.
Existing programs, such as Life, can be utilized for measures supporting the regulation's implementation.