The 11th Biodiversity Action Europe roundtable discussion streamed on 3rd of August 2024 focused on the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) in Europe and featured insights from Cristina Cipriano, Coordinator of Global Youth Biodiversity Network Europe, along with our active members of BAE umbrella, and enthusiastic participants from various youth organisations such as YEE and GCE biodiversity working groups. The conversation covered the development of the law, the role of youth in its advocacy, the challenges faced, and the future steps required for its implementation.
Background and Development of the Nature Restoration Law
The NRL was proposed by the European Commission in 2022, aiming to address biodiversity loss and integrate nature restoration into EU policies. After initial adoption by the Commission, the proposal underwent extensive negotiations involving the European Parliament’s Environment Committee (ENVI), Agriculture and Fisheries Committees. The law faced significant opposition, particularly from the European People's Party (EPP), which argued it would harm food security and farmers’ livelihoods.
Challenges and Adoption: The law nearly failed due to a strong disinformation campaign but was eventually passed in July 2023 by a slim majority in the European Parliament. The final adoption by the European Council in November 2023 was secured thanks to a decisive vote by Austria’s Environment Minister, despite internal opposition within Austria. This last-minute approval was critical as Hungary, an opponent of the law, assumed the Council's presidency shortly after.
Youth Involvement and Advocacy
Early Involvement: Youth organisations, including GYBN Europe, Youth and Environment Europe, Young European Rewilders, Biodiversity Action Europe, Generation Climate Europe, and others, began their advocacy for the NRL as early as 2021. These groups formed a coalition to draft position papers and suggest amendments to the proposed law, emphasising the importance of intergenerational justice and youth involvement.
Advocacy Efforts: Throughout the legislative process, youth organisations engaged in sustained advocacy, including direct communication with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), public awareness campaigns, and social media efforts. Despite these efforts, the final text of the NRL did not explicitly include youth or intergenerational justice, a point of disappointment for the youth advocates.
Challenges Highlighted
Youth Integration in Policy: A significant challenge identified was the symbolic involvement of youth in policy making. While youth voices were heard, they were not sufficiently integrated into the decision-making process. This reflects a broader issue of youth being perceived as inexperienced, which hinders their contributions being taken seriously.
Legislative and Practical Barriers: The final version of the NRL was seen as less ambitious, particularly in its provisions for wetlands and peatlands, which were left as voluntary commitments. The lack of an article on access to environmental justice was also noted as a significant omission.
Future Steps for Implementation
National Restoration Plans: With the NRL now adopted, the focus shifts to the development of National Restoration Plans by each EU Member State. Youth organisations will need to ensure their voices are included in these plans, which are to be developed within two years. Advocacy will continue to be critical in this phase, particularly in pushing for the inclusion of youth in the decision-making processes at the national level.
Collaboration and Capacity Building: The discussion stressed the need for continued and strengthened collaboration among youth organisations. Practical suggestions included creating shared resources, such as templates and social media content, co-hosting events, and forming youth advisory panels to work alongside local and national governments. There was also a call for public events to engage local communities and raise awareness about the NRL.
Reflections and Lessons Learned
Successes and Shortcomings: While the adoption of the NRL is a significant achievement, the discussion acknowledged that the law could have been more ambitious. The process highlighted the importance of persistence in advocacy and the need for better communication strategies, particularly in countering disinformation campaigns.
Moving Forward: The participants emphasised that the work is far from over. The next steps will involve ensuring that the NRL is effectively implemented, with youth organisations playing a key role in monitoring progress and holding governments accountable. There is also an opportunity to turn the law's weaknesses into strengths through proactive communication and engagement strategies.
Concluding Remarks
Call for Unity and Action: The discussion concluded with a strong call for unity among youth organisations. There was a shared recognition that while significant progress has been made, much more work lies ahead. The importance of maintaining and expanding the coalition of youth organisations was emphasised, with a focus on ensuring that the NRL leads to real, tangible improvements in Europe’s natural environments.
If you want to listen to our discusion click the link below
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