Today, after a final debate accompanied by great uncertainty, the EU Environmental Council finally adopted the Nature Restoration Law (NRL), marking the final step for this long-awaited proposal to finally become law. This outcome is a great victory for European nature, climate action, citizens and the future.

The Member States fulfilled their obligations and with a majority of 20 countries, representing 66.07% of the population, the law was officially accepted, thanks to Austrian Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler who spoke out at the last moment and changed Austria’s previous position thus protected the law.

The #RestoreNature coalition, consisting of BirdLife Europe, ClientEarth, EEB and WWF EU, says: “Today’s vote is a major victory for Europe’s nature and citizens who have long called for urgent action to combat the alarming decline of nature. After years of intense campaigning and many ups and downs, we are happy that this law is now a reality – this day will go down in history as a turning point for nature and society. We now need all hands on deck: Member States must properly implement this legislation without delay in their countries, in close cooperation with all stakeholders involved. At the end of the day, nature can recover, for the benefit of our climate, biodiversity and people!”

According to initial information, the Nature Restoration Law should be implemented in Croatia in the form of the Decree on Nature Restoration.

The law went through one of the most stormy journeys in the history of EU legislation. After surviving an unprecedented and absurd disinformation campaign aimed at destroying the NRL in the European Parliament, it faced the risk of being rejected at the very last step in the Environment Council. At the end, however, support for the Law prevailed.

This outcome arrives at the right time to present at the upcoming UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16) later this year, showing that Europe is willing to lead the way in addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis by meeting its global commitments. It is also a very clear message to the new European Parliament and the Commission to remember to keep biodiversity at the top of their agenda.

This result followed a massive public mobilization. Over the past few years, over a million signatures and messages from citizens, repeated calls from more than 6,000 scientists, more than 100 businesses, youth and civil society organizations from numerous sectors have been sent to defend the law and integrity of the European Green Plan. As the #RestoreNature coalition, we want to thank everyone who contributed to this result and made it happen.

Translated by: Tihana Goričnik