19 APRIL 2023
Press release: Beyond short-term profit –
businesses call for a strong Nature Restoration Law
19 APRIL
2023
Over 35
European businesses signed a statement, published early this week, in support
of a strong EU Nature Restoration Law with legally-binding targets. It is one
more powerful plea in a recent series of growing industry calls to restore
natural habitats in the EU and save human livelihoods and economic activities
from the dire consequences of advancing nature loss and climate crisis.
In the
statement, businesses call for “the urgent adoption of an ambitious and
legally-binding EU Nature Restoration Law to bring nature back to Europe. The
EU Nature Restoration Law will be a key tool to tackle our climate and
biodiversity crises and to guarantee the long-term sustainability and viability
of our society and economy.”
The future
of the first EU-wide law to restore nature is currently at stake as it faces
strong opposition from conservative decision-makers and anti-nature lobby
groups. However, a growing number of more progressive businesses recognise the
threats posed by ever-growing biodiversity decline coupled with climate change
impacts and voice their support for large-scale nature restoration. These
companies look beyond short-term profit and understand that without taking
action now, their future economic activities are endangered by supply chain
disruptions or reduced access to crucial ecosystem services. In fact, over half
of the global GDP, $44 trillion, is potentially threatened by nature loss.
Sabien
Leemans, Senior Biodiversity Policy Officer, WWF European Policy Office, said:
“Progressive businesses join a long list of stakeholders calling for a strong Nature
Restoration Law, including citizens, NGOs, the scientific community and other
business networks. The Members of the European Parliament and EU Member States
must listen to these calls and deliver legislation that Europe desperately
needs, fit for tackling both nature and climate crises. Despite shameful
attempts of presenting nature restoration as the enemy of farmers, fishers or
renewable energy development, this statement is a reminder that we all need
resilient ecosystems for our economic activities, human health and the planet.”
Sofie
Ruysschaert, Nature Restoration Policy Officer, BirdLife Europe, added: “The
increase of floods, droughts, and rising temperatures across Europe and
globally are already shaking the business world with unforeseen, and often
unmanageable, disruptions from operations to supply chains. With business
models depending on long-term food, water and energy security, companies know
that the protection and restoration of nature bring huge benefits, including
the creation of jobs and new markets. Every part of society has something to
gain from an ambitious Nature Restoration Law. We call on decision-makers to
listen to these forward-thinking voices and timely deliver the law to restore
nature.”
Following
the letters of business networks and organisations representing the European
Power Sector to support an EU Nature Restoration Law, now over 35 companies
operating in diverse sectors from renewable energy to fishing and outdoor
industry demand effective action to tackle biodiversity and climate crises and
safeguard the future of our society and the economy.
An
ambitious EU Nature Restoration Law with legally-binding targets will ensure
the continuity of critical ecosystem services and contribute to climate change
mitigation, prevention and reduction of natural disasters, improved water
quality, cleaner air, healthier soils and the improvement of people’s overall
well-being.
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