In the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the EU and its Member States committed to implement more than 100 actions by 2030. This tool is designed to track that progress.
SUMMARY
COHERENT NETWORK OF PROTECTED AREAS
Target 1 - Legally protect a minimum of 30% of the EU’s land area and a minimum of 30% of the EU’s sea area, and integrate ecological corridors, as part of a true Trans-European Nature Network.
Target 2 - Strictly protect at least a third of the EU’s protected areas, including all remaining EU primary and old-growth forests.
Target 3 - Effectively manage all protected areas, defining clear conservation objectives and measures, and monitoring them appropriately.
Updated on: 2024-05-31
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 aims to place 30% of EU land area and 30% of EU sea area under protection by 2030, and to place a third of these areas (10%) under strict protection. To support the efforts of Member States, the Commission has published criteria and guidance for identifying and designating additional protected areas, and for their appropriate management planning. The guidance applies the EU targets to each biogeographical region and sea basin, and includes a definition of strict protection. It also indicates how other effective area-based conservation measures, in addition to Natura 2000 sites, could contribute to the targets. The guidance is the result from extensive consultations with Member States' authorities, experts and stakeholders.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-06-05
Deadline: 2030
Summary: Under the EU Nature Directives, EU Member States must designate Natura 2000 sites to protect certain species and habitats of EU importance. The obligation to complete the Natura 2000 network will also contribute to the protection targets set by the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (see Action 1). The establishment of the terrestrial Natura 2000 network is almost complete. There are still significant gaps for marine areas. The Commission promotes compliance, including through bilateral Nature Dialogues with Member States, and takes enforcement action as necessary.
Links:
Main Actors:
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-06-05
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA) have provided a tool for Member States to report their pledges for the designation of protected areas towards the nature protection targets set in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (see also action 5). In 2023 and 2024, the content of the national pledges is being discussed with authorities and stakeholders in the frame of biogeographical region-level seminars. The aim is to make sure that the EU nature protection targets would be met by 2030, both on land and at sea. In this process, attention is also given to ensuring the effective management of all protected areas.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
EEA
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-06-25
Deadline: 2023
Summary: In consultation with the Commission, the EEA will assess and if necessary, work with the countries through its EIONET network to adapt the reporting format of the database of nationally designated protected areas, for the purposes of reporting new information and assessing progress towards the nature protection targets set by the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
EEA
Chef de File:
EEA
Updated on: 2024-06-05
Deadline: 2023
Summary: The Commission has provided criteria and guidance for the designation of protected areas and the integration of ecological corridors, to deliver on the EU Biodiversity Strategy's targets to protect 30% of land and 30% of sea areas in the EU, and to strictly protect a third of these areas (see Action 1). A dedicated reporting tool has been put in place by the European Environment Agency (EEA) for the submission of Member States' pledges on the designation of additional protected areas. To date, only six Member States have submitted pledges for the protection and/or strict protection targets: DE, DK, ES, FR, LU and SE. Progress towards the pledges is being discussed at a series of terrestrial and marine biogeographical seminars (see Action 3).
Links:
Main Actors:
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-06-05
Deadline: 2024
Summary: By 2023, the EU Member States have to demonstrate significant progress in designating new protected areas. To date, six Member States have submitted pledges for the protection and/or strict protection targets (see Action 5). This limited number does not allow for an assessment of the collective ambition. The process and content of pledges are being discussed with authorities and stakeholders in a series of EU biogeographical region-level seminars. The Commission also continues to promote the completion of the Natura 2000 network through structured bilateral Nature Dialogues, and it has taken enforcement action as necessary.
Links:
- Natura 2000 biogeographical process
- Mid-term review of the 8th Environment Action Programme
- Reporting pledges for protected areas and conservation status improvement targets
Main Actors:
COM
EEA
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-05-31
Deadline: 2022
Summary: Strictly protecting all primary and old-growth forests in the EU requires preparatory work on definitions and concepts for such forests across the EU, followed by complete mapping of these areas, stock-taking of existing monitoring measures and future monitoring needs, and a review of evidence on protection regimes and the impact of various activities on these ecosystems. The Commission has worked with Member States and stakeholders to develop common definitions and prescribe mapping, monitoring and protection measures for primary and old-growth forests in the EU. This work, in the framework of the Working Group on Forests and Nature, was completed in March 2023 with the publication of the guidelines.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-06-05
Deadline: 2030
Summary: Strategically planned green infrastructure can increase ecological connectivity, ecosystem health and resilience, harness the multiple benefits of healthy ecosystems and contribute to the overall coherence of the EU Natura 2000 Network. The EU has provided opportunities to support investments in green and blue infrastructure and nature-based solutions via several funding instruments under the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. The Commission has further invited Member States to plan, in their Prioritised Action Frameworks, investments in green infrastructure to underpin the functioning of the Natura 2000 network. The Commission published, in 2023, an EU assessment of investment needs and priorities for Natura 2000 and green infrastructure. In addition, the revised EU Pollinators Initiative has proposed the establishment of ecological corridors – “buzz lines” – to enable the movement of pollinator species in search of food, shelter, nesting and breeding sites and to provide migration routes for species impacted by climate change.
Links:
- EU Green Infrastructure Strategy
- EU Guidance on strategic EU level green and blue infrastructure
- Investment needs and priorities for Natura 2000 and green infrastructure
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-06-05
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The EU Biodiversity Strategy aims to protect and restore the exceptional biodiversity of the EU's Outermost regions (OR). The Commission has strengthened the biodiversity dimension in the Strategy for the EU’s Outermost regions adopted in May 2022. It has also encouraged Member States to to include OR in the EU Natura 2000 network, and provided guidance on support opportunities for protected areas and green infrastructure in the OR under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Similarly, the Commission encourages Member States to seize biodiversity support opportunities under InvestEU, Horizon Europe and the Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE). The BESTLIFE2030 project (2023 - 2031), with a total EU contribution of EUR 32 million, will establish a grant facility to build stakeholder capacities in the OR and OCT, and to support dozens of biodiversity conservation, restoration and sustainable use projects.
Links:
- BESTLIFE2030
- LIFE Calls for proposals 2023
- Strategy for the EU Outermost Regions
- Report on State of Data Collection and Scientific Advice in the EU ORs
Main Actors:
COM
MS
OR
Chef de File:
ENV
EU NATURE RESTORATION PLAN
Strengthening the EU legal framework for nature restoration
Target 4 - Legally binding EU nature restoration targets to be proposed in 2021, subject to an impact assessment. By 2030, significant areas of degraded and carbon-rich ecosystems are restored. Habitats and species show no deterioration in conservation trends and status; and at least 30% reach favourable conservation status or at least show a positive trend.
Updated on: 2024-07-29
Deadline: 2021
Summary: On 22 June 2022, the Commission proposed a new law to restore ecosystems. The proposal aims to restore ecosystems, habitats and species across the EU’s land and sea areas in order to: (i) enable the long-term and sustained recovery of biodiverse and resilient nature, (ii) contribute to achieving the EU’s climate mitigation and climate adaptation objectives and (iii) meet international commitments. The proposal combines an overarching restoration objective for the long-term recovery of nature in the EU’s land and sea areas with binding restoration targets for specific habitats and species. These measures should cover at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030, and ultimately all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. On 17 June 2024 the final version of the law was formally adopted.
Links:
- EU Nature Restoration Law - webpage
- Proposal for a nature restoration law
- Press release from the Council on the adoption of the Nature restoration law
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council on nature restoration
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2023-03-20
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 sets a target for Member States to ensure that at least 30% of their species and habitats protected under the Birds and Habitats Directives currently not in favourable status will be in that category by 2030, or at least show a strong positive trend. In addition, the target also provides that, by 2030, no more species or habitats should show a decline. In order to support the Member States in the selection and prioritisation of species and habitats for improvements to be achieved under that target, the Commission has developed a technical guidance note with the European Environment Agency (EEA), Member States and stakeholders in the frame of the Nature Directive Expert Group (NADEG). The guidance note was finalised in June 2021.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
EEA
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2021-12-14
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The EU Member States will be in charge of restoring protected species and habitats, in line with the (future) EU restoration targets (Action 10), the Guidance on the selection and prioritisation of species and habitats for restoration (Action 11) and related Biodiversity Strategy restoration commitments.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
MS
EEA
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2023-01-18
Deadline: 2022
Summary: The Commission published a science-for-policy report on the EU methodology to map and assess ecosystem condition in September 2022. It provides methodological guidance at EU level on the mapping and monitoring of ecosystem condition and services, in support of the implementation, monitoring and reporting on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. It will now be tested by Member States and stakeholders and support the Nature Restoration Law (see action 10).
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
EEA
EUROSTAT
JRC
ENV
Bringing nature back to agricultural land
Target 5 - The decline of pollinators is reversed.
Updated on: 2023-10-03
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The EU Pollinators Initiative, which has been revised in January 2023, aims to (i) improve knowledge of pollinator decline, its causes and consequences; (ii) improve pollinator conservation and tackle the causes of pollinator decline and (iii) mobilise society and promote strategic planning and cooperation at all levels. Work is ongoing to fully implement the short-term actions and longer-term objectives (2030) of the EU Pollinators Initiative. Recent progress includes the publication of a European Red List for hoverflies complementing existing European Red Lists for bees and butterflies. A European Red List for moths is in preparation. The Commission also published a European Red List of insect taxonomists highlighting existing coverage and gaps of expertise on insect species across the EU. Progress has been made in extending butterfly monitoring to a greater number of EU Member States and in developing and field testing a future EU-wide Pollinator Monitoring Scheme, which is to be based on a harmonised and scientifically robust methodology. Drivers for pollinator decline are being studied, amongst others with the Insignia project, which monitors pesticide presence in samples collected by honeybees, and the EMBAL project, which monitors the ecological quality of agricultural habitats. In June 2023, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) completed the review of the Guidance Document on the Risk Assessment of Plant Protection Products on Bees.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
EEA
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2021-12-08
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The Commission published its Report on the implementation of the EU Pollinators initiative in May 2021. The report takes stock of the implementation of short-term (2020) actions and of progress to the long-term (2030) objectives of the initiative.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2023-12-13
Deadline: 2022
Summary: On 25 January 2023, the Commission published a revised EU Pollinators Initiative. It includes a reinforced Action Framework with 42 Actions, to be implemented by 2030 or earlier. The revised pollinator initiative aims to (i) improve knowledge of pollinator decline, its causes and consequences; (ii) improve pollinator conservation and tackle the causes of pollinator decline and (iii) mobilise society and promote strategic planning and cooperation at all levels.
Links:
- EU Pollinators Initiative - revision
- Commission Communication on a Revised EU Pollinators Initiative
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
AGRI
ENV
SANTE
Target 6 - The risk and use of chemical pesticides is reduced by 50%, and the use of more hazardous pesticides is reduced by 50%.
Updated on: 2024-07-15
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The European Commission announced two pesticide reduction targets as part to the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 in May 2020. These are a 50% reduction in the use and risk of chemical pesticides and a 50% reduction in the use of more hazardous pesticides. Further progress to achieving these targets can be supported by a range of measures. The Commission will continue to encourage improved use of integrated pest management (including under the CAP) and increased efficiency of pesticide use, as well as improved data collection. To reduce the use of chemical pesticides, it is essential to have alternatives available. The Commission has therefore already taken significant steps to improve this situation. It has adopted four implementing regulations under the Plant Protection Products Regulation revising data requirements, approval criteria and assessment methodologies for the authorisation of biological pesticides containing micro-organisms to accelerate their access to the market. Each year, the Commission publishes progress at European Union level towards meeting both targets. Using the latest data available (2022), the target relating to the use and risk of pesticides has been largely achieved, while the target related to the use of the more hazardous pesticides has made substantial progress. Consequently, it is considered that both targets can be achieved in advance of 2030. The Commission supported a range of projects aimed at pesticide reductions and integrated pest management (e.g., IPM toolbox, SMARTPROTECT, IPM Works, AdvisoryNetPest, EU-FarmBook) under Horizon Europe and other instruments, including the EU CAP Network and EIP-AGRI operational groups.
Links:
- Progress to pesticide target
- Commission proposal for a Regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
SANTE
Updated on: 2024-07-17
Deadline: 2022
Summary: The Commission has carried out an evaluation of the Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides. On 22 June 2022, the Commission proposed a new Regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products, accompanied by an Impact Assessment. On 22 November 2023, the European Parliament rejected the Commission proposal as amended in plenary, thereby closing its first reading.
Links:
- Final Evaluation Report
- Impact Assessment Report
- Online consultation - feedback on adopted Commission proposal by 22 August 2022
- Commission proposal for Regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
SANTE
Target 7 - At least 10% of agricultural area is under high-diversity landscape features.
Updated on: 2024-07-11
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the main contributor towards the 10% of agricultural land to be under high-biodiversity landscape features. For instance, conditionality which applies to all CAP beneficiaries (GAEC 8) requires retention of landscape features. The support to voluntary measures on the creation and maintenance of landscape features (CAP Pillar 1 eco-schemes and Pillar 2 rural development interventions) is also contributing. In 2022, the Commission approved Member States’ CAP Strategic Plans, and the Plans have been running since January 2023. These lay down conditionality requirements (including GAEC 8 on retention of landscape features) and set up interventions to support voluntary measures which can include specific practices for the maintenance of non-productive areas, such as land lying fallow, and for the establishment of new landscape features, on arable land.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
AGRI
ENV
Updated on: 2024-07-11
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The Commission is constantly reviewing progress on the target of 10% high-diversity landscape features on agricultural land and, if necessary, it may take measures to mitigate against undue impact on biodiversity, food security and farmers' competitiveness. The Commission allowed a general temporary exemption for rules on crop rotation and the use of fallow land (GAECs 7 and 8) for 2023. In the context of the war of aggression in Ukraine, the Commission authorised Member States (MS) to derogate in 2023 from the first requirement of GAEC 8 (and GAEC 7 crop rotation) by allowing farmers to produce food crops on areas, which would otherwise be fallow under GAEC 8. The purpose was to avoid reducing the Union production capacity at a moment of high uncertainties with regard to global food security. This partial derogation was framed and limited to avoid or reduce negative trade-offs on the environment. Most Member States made use of this derogation. CAP simplification package retains certain compulsory common elements under GAEC 8 (for example the obligation to preserve existing landscape features) and replaces the obligation to maintain non-productive areas and features with a support mechanism for farmers, giving them the opportunity to be compensated for leaving land unproductive.
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
AGRI
ENV
Target 8 - At least 25% of agricultural land is under organic farming management, and the uptake of agro-ecological practices is significantly increased.
Updated on: 2023-12-21
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The EU Biodiversity Strategy and the EU Farm-to-Fork Strategy set the target to manage 25% of agricultural land under organic farming by 2030. The Action Plan on Organic Farming aims to promote the adoption of organic farming practices to achieve this target, as well as the development of organic products and demand for organic products. The Action Plan was adopted in March 2021.In November 2023, the Commission adopted its Report on the CAP Strategic Plans which finds that the Plans show a substantial contribution towards the Farm to Fork Strategy target to farm 25% of EU farmland organically by 2030. By 2027, an estimated 10% of the EU’s agricultural area should receive CSP support for organic farming (up from 5.6% in 2020). It notes that, at national level, ambitions announced in relation to this target range between 5% and 30% of farmland.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
AGRI
Updated on: 2023-12-21
Deadline: 2022
Summary: The Commission has provided country-specific recommendations, and it has engaged in a structured dialogue with the Member States to encourage that their CAP strategic plans comply with the EU objectives and that they set explicit national values for the relevant targets of the Biodiversity Strategy and the Farm to Fork Strategy, to be supported by CAP instruments (as well as other relevant instruments).
Links:
- CAP Strategic Plans
- Enhancing agricultural biodiversity
- Approved CAP Strategic Plans by country
- Commission Observation Letters on the CAP Strategic Plans
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
AGRI
Updated on: 2023-04-13
Deadline: 2022
Summary: Rules to facilitate the registration of varieties suitable for organic production for priority species have been adopted. A derogation is provided to facilitate the registration of varieties suitable for organic production in order to meet the needs of the organic production sector, to foster research and to develop organic varieties suitable for organic production, taking into account the specific needs and objectives of organic agriculture such as enhanced genetic diversity, disease resistance or tolerance and adaptation to diverse local soil and climate conditions.
Links:
- Commission Implementing Directive on Derogation for Organic Vegetable Varieties
- Commission Implementing Directive on Derogation for Organic Agricultural Plant Varieties
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
SANTE
Updated on: 2023-07-20
Deadline: 2023
Summary: The Commission has adopted on 5 July 2023 a legislative proposal for the revision of the EU legislation for the marketing of plant reproductive material and a legislative proposal for the revision of the EU legislation for the marketing of forest reproductive material, accompanied by an impact assessment. The proposal on plant reproductive material introduces simpler rules for the marketing for conservation varieties, both traditional ones and locally newly bred under specific local conditions, with the objective to support the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources. The proposal on plant reproductive material introduces measures to support the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
SANTE
Updated on: 2024-07-11
Deadline: 2027
Summary: The Commission has been working with the Member States to promote agroforestry in their CAP strategic plans and most plans include afforestation and agroforestry management commitments.
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
AGRI
ENV
Forest quantity, health and resilience
Updated on: 2023-12-22
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The new EU forest strategy for 2030 was adopted in July 2021. Its implementation will contribute to achieving the EU biodiversity and climate objectives. The strategy is accompanied by two staff working documents, on the Stakeholder Consultation and Evidence Base, and on the 3 Billion Tree Planting Pledge for 2030.
Links:
- EU Forest Strategy
- Stakeholder Consultation and Evidence Base
- The 3 Billion Tree Planting Pledge for 2030
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
AGRI
COM
ENV
Updated on: 2023-12-20
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The Forest Information System for Europe (FISE) was launched in 2020, with the aim to make it Europe’s knowledge tool to monitor the state, health and sustainability of Europe’s many forests. It will also be a key tool in monitoring the implementation of the European Green Deal objectives in relation to forests. The Commission outlined the further development of FISE as part of the new EU Forest Strategy and will work with the Member States to further develop FISE so that it can capture all elements of forest pressures, status and changes in quality and quantity. The proposal for a Regulation on a monitoring framework for resilient European forests adopted in November 2023 will plug existing gaps in the information on European forests by ensuring detailed, accurate and timely information on the conditions and management of forest that will be publicly accessible through FISE. Strengthening availability and accessibility of forest knowledge will support evidence-based policy-making and allow Member States, forest owners and forest manager to improve their response to growing pressures and to strengthen forest resilience in a changing climate.
Links:
- Forest Information System for Europe
- Development of EU forest observation framework
- Proposal for a Regulation on a monitoring framework for resilient European forests
Main Actors:
COM
EEA
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2021-12-09
Deadline: 2030
Summary: Summary: The Commission is working with the Member States to ensure that afforestation and reforestation measures support biodiversity and promote closer-to-nature forestry practices. This includes the integration of relevant measures in the Member States’ CAP strategic plans.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
ECHO
AGRI
Target 9 - Three billion additional trees are planted in the EU, in full respect of ecological principles.
Updated on: 2023-12-20
Deadline: 2022
Summary: The guidelines on Biodiversity-Friendly Afforestation, Reforestation and Tree Planting provide a set of practical recommendations to support authorities, forest and landowners, and managers and civil society to better implement biodiversity-friendly afforestation, reforestation and tree-planting projects including at the local level. Specifically, they support the European Green Deal commitment to improve the forested area of the EU both in quantity and quality. Through both active planting and natural regeneration, these guidelines constitute one of the key milestones to implement the 3 billion additional trees pledge of the EU by 2030. They address afforestation initiatives in agricultural land; reforestation actions in forest land, including restoration actions; and tree planting in urban and peri-urban environments, as well as agricultural land (agroforestry). The guidelines were adopted on 20 March 2023. The guidelines on Closer-to-Nature Forest Management were published in July 2023. The guidelines set out principles and tools for closer to nature as a form of ecosystem-based forest management with a view to strengthen forest multifunctionality, biodiversity and resilience to climate change, while fostering long-term economic and other societal benefits.
Links:
- The 3 Billion Tree Planting Pledge For 2030
- Guidelines on Closer-to-Nature Forest Managemenet
- Guidelines on Biodiversity-Friendly Afforestation, Reforestation and Tree Planting
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2023-09-06
Deadline: 2021
Summary: As part of the new EU Forest Strategy, the Commission presented a Roadmap for planting at least 3 billion additional trees in the EU by 2030, in full respect of ecological principles. On 9 December, the Commission also launched a Counter to the target of 3 billion trees (see link below).
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Addressing land take and restoring soil ecosystems
Target 10 - Significant progress in the remediation of contaminated soil sites.
Updated on: 2023-10-09
Deadline: 2027
Summary: The Commission will work with the Member States to scale-up the adoption of sustainable soil management practices by land managers. This role of the farmer advisory services in accompanying the transition will be strengthened. The EU will also support research to fill current knowledge gaps on best practices, benefits and trade-offs for society and farmers. This action will be implemented as part of the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy and the new EU Soil Strategy.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
AGRI
ENV
Updated on: 2025-01-28
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The Commission adopted in November 2021 a new EU Soil Thematic Strategy which aims to tackle in a comprehensive way soil and land degradation, as well as to fulfil EU and international commitments on land degradation neutrality. The Strategy provides a framework and sets several qualitative medium-term and long-term targets to protect and restore soils and ensure that they are used in a sustainable manner. It includes key measures for sustainable soil use, the avoidance of land sealing, a target to halve the drainage of peatlands, restoration of contaminated sites, and tighter monitoring and reporting obligations for EU countries. In early 2025 the EU Soil Strategy Actions Tracker was launched. This tool, for which a link is provided below, tracks the progress of policy actions listed in the Strategy. Following the commitment stemming from the strategy, the Commission adopted in July 2023 a Proposal for a Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience (Soil Monitoring Law). The proposal complements existing environmental legislation by providing a coherent EU-level framework for soils and provides a harmonised definition of soil health, puts in place a comprehensive and coherent monitoring framework and fosters sustainable soil management and remediation of contaminated sites. The ultimate objective of the proposed law is to achieve EU soils in healthy condition by 2050, in line with the EU Zero Pollution ambition. The European Parliament adopted its position at first reading on 10 April 2024. On 17 June 2024 the Council reached a general approach on the text.
Links:
- EU Soil Strategy
- European Parliament position
- EU Soil Strategy Action Tracker
- Preparation of an EU Soil Health Law
- General approach on the soil monitoring law
- Proposal for a Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience
- Press release from the Council on the reaching of a general approach
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2023-12-21
Deadline: 2030
Summary: As set out in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Member States will need to identify contaminated soil sites, restore degraded soils and improve soil monitoring. The Commission and the Member States are working to integrate objectives and measures to this end in relevant EU instruments, to define the conditions for good ecological status of soil, introduce restoration objectives and take action to improve the monitoring of soil quality. In recognition that funding is vital to enable a transition to healthy soils, the Commission also adopted a guidance on EU funding opportunities available for the protection, sustainable management, and restoration of soils. Furthermore, it also contributes to the Soil Strategy’s aim of increasing soil literacy, engagement and awareness among a wide range of stakeholders, including practitioners, public authorities, academia and others.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2023-12-18
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The Commission committed to propose measures to limit, mitigate and compensate soil sealing and scale up related actions. Rehabilitation and recycling of brownfields reduces additional land take and sealing: registering (potentially) polluted sites is key as well as providing sufficient financial support for remediation. Whilst the Commission will no longer present a separate EU Strategy for a Sustainable Built Environment, measures originally foreseen for this strategy were frontloaded in the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the Commission's 2020 Strategy ‘Renovation Wave for Europe’ along with its action plan, and integrated in the new Soil Strategy (2021). Furthermore, the Transition Pathway for Construction (2023) presents a holistic approach on the green and digital transition of construction and the built environment. It also acts as a roadmap and an actionable plan.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
GROW
Updated on: 2023-12-21
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The main goal of the Mission 'A Soil Deal for Europe' is to establish 100 living labs and lighthouses to lead the transition towards healthy soils by 2030. The Mission leads the transition towards healthy soils by: • funding an ambitious research and innovation programme with a strong social science component; • putting in place an effective network of 100 living labs and lighthouses to co-create knowledge, test solutions and demonstrate their value in real-life conditions; • developing a harmonised framework for soil monitoring in Europe; • raising people’s awareness on the vital importance of soils. The 8 Mission objectives are: (1) reduce desertification, (2) conserve soil organic carbon stocks, (3) stop soil sealing and increase re-use of urban soils, (4) reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration, (5) prevent erosion, (6) improve soil structure to enhance soil biodiversity, (7) reduce the EU global footprint on soils, (8) improve soil literacy in society. The Mission will support the EU’s ambition to lead on global commitments, notably the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and contribute to the European Green Deal targets on sustainable farming, climate resilience, biodiversity and zero-pollution. It is also a flagship initiative of the long-term vision for rural areas.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
AGRI
ENV
RTD
Win-win solutions for energy generation
Updated on: 2023-04-12
Deadline: 2021
Summary: This action will be supported by the Implementing Act on REDII sustainability criteria for forest biomass (see 40) and the Revision of the 2018 renewable energy directive (see Action 38).
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
EEA
MS
Chef de File:
ENER
Updated on: 2023-12-13
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The aim of this action is to apply win-win solutions that reduce emissions to the extent required by the EU's climate-neutrality goal for 2050, while promoting biodiversity preservation. The EU will prioritise solutions such as ocean energy or offshore wind which also allows for fish stock regeneration, solar-panel farms that provide biodiversity-friendly soil cover, and sustainable bioenergy. The main relevant instruments include the revision of the Renewable energy Directive (see Action 38), and the Implementing Act on Forest Biomass (see Action 40), the Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy and Guidance document on wind energy developments and EU nature legislation adopted in November 2020.
Links:
- EU Strategy on offshore renewable energy
- Guidance document on wind energy developments and EU Nature legislation
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2448 of 13 December 2022 on establishing operational guidance on the evidence for demonstrating compliance with the sustainability criteria for forest biomass
Main Actors:
COM
EEA
MS
Chef de File:
ENER
Updated on: 2024-07-24
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The Commission regularly assesses the current and future sources and uses of biomass from all primary production sectors in the EU, and related sustainability with the aim to better understand and monitor the potential climate and biodiversity risks, and to support the design and implementation of policy measures. This is a long-term mandate that started in 2014. The Commission publishes a report every two years. For a full list of publications, see the dedicated page on the Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy (link below).
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
JRC
Updated on: 2021-12-09
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The objective of the Commission’s legislative proposals, delivered in June 2021 as part of the Fit for 55 package, is to ensure that the EU regulatory framework on bioenergy is in line with the increased ambition set out in the European Green Deal. The review of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED aims to reduce emissions to the extent required to reach the climate-neutrality goal for 2050, while promoting resource-efficient economic growth, job creation, technological leadership, pollution reduction and biodiversity preservation. The review of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is driven by the 2030 climate ambition and 2050 long-term goal, while taking account of the need for just transition. The review of the LULUCF Regulation aims to align the regulatory framework to an EU-wide target to reduce emissions by 55% in 2030 while ensuring a just transition and taking into account synergies with other land-related sectors (agriculture, bio-economy), uses (nature-based solutions, closer-to-nature forestry) and policies. To this effect, the initiative aims to create stronger policy incentives that realise the EU’s potential to reduce land emissions, enhance substitution of fossil-based materials and enhance land-based sinks in the land use sector.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENER
COM
Updated on: 2024-07-24
Deadline: 2020
Summary: The study, published in 2021, has informed, among other things, the review and revision of the Renewable Energy Directive, the Emissions Trading Scheme, and the Regulation on land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF).
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
JRC
RTD
Updated on: 2023-04-12
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The guidance aims to ensure correct, robust and harmonised implementation of the new forest biomass criteria of Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) throughout the EU.
Links:
- Vote of the Committee
- Online consultation (closed)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2448 of 13 December 2022 on establishing operational guidance on the evidence for demonstrating compliance with the sustainability criteria for forest biomass laid down in Article 29 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENER
Updated on: 2023-04-18
Deadline: 2021
Summary: Under this action, and with the support of a technical project, the Commission will assess latest data on biofuels with high indirect land-use change risk, in order to establish a trajectory for their gradual phase out by 2030.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENER
Restoring freshwater ecosystems
Target 11 - At least 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers are restored.
Updated on: 2024-11-04
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The target to achieve at least 25,000 km of free flowing rivers in the EU aims at supporting the restoration of freshwater ecosystems and the natural functions of rivers, by removing barriers and restoring floodplains and wetlands. The Commission has developed, in close consultation with authorities in the Member States as well as with EU level stakeholders, guidance to assist the Member States in: • identifying (primarily obsolete) barriers that are feasible to remove, with a view to re-establishing the natural functions of a river system and restoring free flowing rivers. • identifying possible funding sources for restoration at the identified sites.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2023-03-28
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The Member States are responsible for implementing this action. By 2030, Member States should have collectively removed enough barriers to restore the natural functions of rivers and their floodplains, with a view to achieve at least 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers.
Main Actors:
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-01-09
Deadline: 2023
Summary: The Commission seeks to support Member States in defining and implementing ecological flows, including through a review of permits for abstraction and impoundment.
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2021-11-24
Deadline: 2027
Summary: By 2027, ecological flows should have been defined and implemented to achieve good status or potential of all surface waters and good status of all groundwater, as required by the Water Framework Directive, including through a review of national abstraction and impoundment permits.
Main Actors:
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Addressing invasive alien species
Target 12 - There is a 50% reduction in the number of Red List species threatened by invasive alien species.
Updated on: 2024-07-12
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The Commission will work with the Member States to step up implementation of the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and other relevant legislation and international instruments. The aim is to ensure that the introduction and establishment of invasive alien species in the EU environment is minimised and where possible is eliminated, while established invasive alien species are managed. A review of the application of the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species was published in 2021. An update of the list of IAS of Union concern was published in August 2022 and the list will be updated about every two years afterwards.
Links:
- European Commission - Invasive Alien Species
- Commission report on the review of the application of the EU IAS Regulation
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Reducing pollution
Target 13 - The losses of nutrients from fertilisers are reduced by 50%, resulting in the reduction of the use of fertilisers by at least 20%.
Updated on: 2021-12-09
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The Commission will increase ongoing policy implementation and enforcement efforts in order to reduce by at least 50% nutrient losses from nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers, while ensuring that there is no deterioration in soil fertility. The aim is to reduce nutrient pollution to amounts within safe planetary boundaries, in line with the targets set by the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Zero Pollution Action Plan.
Main Actors:
MS
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-07-12
Deadline: 2022
Summary: Nutrient losses in the EU today already exceed safe planetary boundaries. They have negative impacts on public health, on the environment (soil, water and air) and on several sectors of the economy (such as fisheries, tourism). Under the EU’s Green Deal, the farm to fork and the biodiversity strategies announced that the Commission would draw up an integrated nutrient management action plan to help achieve the 2030 targets set in these strategies to reduce nutrient losses by at least 50%. This plan would aim to: (i) ensure more sustainable application of nutrients, (ii) stimulate markets for recovered nutrients, (iii) address nutrient pollution at source, and (iv) increase the sustainability of the livestock sector. The plan would support the implementation and enforcement of the relevant environmental and climate legislation, by identifying with the Member States the nutrient load reductions needed to achieve these goals, by applying balanced fertilisation and sustainable nutrient management and by managing nitrogen and phosphorus better throughout their lifecycle. A public consultation was completed in the summer of 2022 to collect the views of the public and of stakeholders on the aspects of an EU integrated nutrient management action plan. Reducing pollution from excess nutrients in the environment remains an important objective under the European Green Deal and part of the Union’s international commitment under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. During its mandate, this Commission has presented a number of initiatives that directly or indirectly contribute to nutrient loss reduction, including legislative and non-legislative initiatives on nature restauration, industrial emissions, urban waste-water treatment, food waste, biomethane, and soil. Moreover, the Commission recently announced in its Work Programme for 2024 that it intends to carry out an evaluation of the Nitrates Directive. The call for evidence and public consultation was launched on 1 December 2023 and ran until 8 March.
Links:
- Public consultation (23 May 2022 - 26 August 2022)
- Public consultation on the evaluation of the Nitrates Directive (until 8 March)
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-11-19
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The zero pollution vision for 2050 is that air, water and soil pollution will be reduced to levels that are no longer considered harmful to health and natural ecosystems, and that respect the boundaries with which our planet can cope, thereby creating a toxic-free environment. The Zero Pollution Action Plan was adopted in May 2021.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2021-12-09
Deadline: 2020
Summary: The EU chemicals strategy for sustainability, adopted in October 2020, aims to help protect citizens and the environment against hazardous chemicals and to encourage innovation for the development of safe and sustainable alternatives. This means simplifying and strengthening the legal framework, improve cooperation and transparency between EU agencies and scientific bodies as well as ensure that the regulatory framework rapidly reflects scientific evidence on the risk posed by hazardous chemicals.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Greening urban and peri-urban areas
Target 14 - Cities with at least 20,000 inhabitants have an ambitious Urban Greening Plan.
Updated on: 2023-04-19
Deadline: 2021
Summary: On 24 October 2022, the Commission published guidance to help cities and municipalities to develop and implement ambitious and meaningful Urban Greening Plans fully integrated into all relevant aspects of the local planning process.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2023-04-19
Deadline: 2021
Summary: An online Urban Greening Platform has been set up to provide a coherent point for cities to access information and support in setting up their Urban Greening Plans. It will be integrated with the existing relevant Commission technical tools and urban environment initiatives.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
COR
Covenant of Mayors
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-07-12
Deadline: 2030
Summary: This action can be taken up by sub-national authorities in the Member States. The aim is to ensure that urban planning processes systematically incorporate and promote green Infrastructure thinking and nature-based solutions. Such approaches have been incorporated into the guidance for preparing Urban greening plans and delivered via the Urban Greening Platform.
Links:
Main Actors:
MS - cities over 20,000 inhabitants
Chef de File:
ENV
Restoring marine ecosystems
Target 15 - The negative impacts on sensitive species and habitats, including on the seabed through fishing and extraction activities, are substantially reduced to achieve good environmental status.
Updated on: 2024-10-25
Deadline: 2030
Summary: This action is linked to the action on fisheries management measures, and to the action plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems. The objectives are partially achieved, for most fish stocks with MSY advice in the northeast Atlantic (including the North Sea, Channel, Celtic Seas and the Bay of Biscay and Iberian Atlantic coast , although some stocks are above and some are below this rate. Conditions in the Baltic Sea remain very challenging. In the Mediterranean Sea the current rate is close to twice the target rate but has decreased in recent years. For the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, the Fisheries Council decided on a 7.5% reduction of fishing effort for 2021, complemented by an international commitment to implement a 10% reduction. The Council also agreed to a 12% reduction of fishing effort for demersal stocks in the Adriatic in 2021.
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
MARE
Updated on: 2024-10-22
Deadline: 2022
Summary: The EU Action Plan: Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries was adopted on 21 February 2023. The initiative is based on existing legal obligations and links the implementation of the Common fisheries policy (CFP) with the environmental legislation and policy, notably the Birds, Habitats and the Marine strategy framework directives (MSFD). The action plan opens a debate on on how to deliver synergies between the EU fisheries and environmental law and sets out actions for discussion to protect and restore fisheries resources and marine ecosystems, notably by calling on Member states to consider actions to step up efforts on decreasing the bycatch of sensitive species and better protecting Marine protected areas from the adverse environmental effects of mobile bottom fishing. Such actions would benefit EU citizens through enhanced marine ecosystem services (notably climate change mitigation and the provision of sustainable seafood), but also the fishing sector through more resilient and robust commercial fish stocks. It complements the Commission communication on the functioning of the Common fisheries policy (CFP), as well as the implementation of the 2019 Technical Measures Regulation (TMR), which showed that some Member States have used the regionalised approach to introduce additional fisheries measures to protect sensitive species and habitats at the national and regional level. The action plan is an important step to deliver results under the EU Biodiversity strategy for 2030, alongside other measures such as the extension and effective management of marine protected areas and the adoption of legally binding restoration targets under the Nature restoration law.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
MARE
Updated on: 2024-07-12
Deadline: 2022
Summary: Maritime Spatial Plans under the MSP Directive need to take into account land-sea interactions and apply an ecosystem-based management approach to reduce the adverse impacts of fishing, extraction and other human activities on species and habitats. This is of high importance for sea basins with legal instruments in place, like the Mediterranean (ICZM Protocol). Maritime spatial plans need to be consistent with the marine strategies that Member States have prepared under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive to ensure that the legal obligations are achieved. The Commission published a report in 2022.
Links:
- Commission report on MSP implementation (COM/2022/185 final)
- Guidelines for implementing an ecosystem-based approach in maritime spatial planning
- Assessment of the relevance and effect of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive in the context of the European Green Deal
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
MARE
Updated on: 2024-11-04
Deadline: 2030
Summary: Marine protected areas need to be designated and effectively managed to protect habitats and species protected by the Birds and Habitats Directives as well as to achieve good environmental status of marine ecosystems under the MSFD. Management of a given MPA may require regulating fishing activities. Since the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy (CFP) is an exclusive competence of the European Union, it is up to the EU to take any fisheries-related measures. The CFP provides for a toolbox for taking fisheries conservation measures and gives also Member States the chance to play an active role in designing fisheries measures through the so-called regionalisation.
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
MARE
Updated on: 2024-10-25
Deadline: 2022
Summary: Threshold values for seabed integrity under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) define a maximum extent of loss and adverse effect of seabed habitats to be in good environmental status (GES). Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 on good environmental status requires that these threshold values are set through an EU process. Extent thresholds have been developed by the Technical Group on Seabed Habitats (TG Seabed) and adopted in March 2023 by the Marine Strategy Coordination Group within the MSFD Common implementation strategy process. According to TG Seabed's recommendation, a maximum extent of 25% of a seabed habitat can be under adverse effects, of which a maximum extent of 2% can be irremediably lost. These recommendations apply to all seabed broad habitat types in EU waters.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-11-04
Deadline: 2027
Summary: This action is about providing financial support for the transition to more selective gear and less damaging fishing techniques through the actions supported by the European, Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Programmes. In March 2023, the Commission completed the adoption of the national EMFAF Programmes, in which Member States have formulated strong commitments. The Commission will now ensure that the implementation of the EMFAF by Member States concretely contributes to the achievement of the overall environment, climate and biodiversity targets established in the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 through a series of actions, including the promotion of sustainable, low-impact and low-carbon fishing activities. The Commission will also implement EMFAF actions directly (under ‘direct management’) to support the promotion of clean and healthy seas and oceans.
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
MARE
Target 16 - The by-catch of species is eliminated or reduced to a level that allows species recovery and conservation.
Updated on: 2024-11-04
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The by-catch of species threatened with extinction must be eliminated or reduced to a level that allows their full recovery. This should also be the case for species in bad conservation status or not in good environmental status under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Furthermore, by-catch of other species must be eliminated or, where this is not possible, minimised so as not to threaten their conservation status. To support this, data collection on by-catch for all sensitive species needs to be stepped up. The marine action plan adopted on 21 February 2023 contributes to delivering on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, in particular by committing to minimise fisheries impacts on sensitive species through concrete measures to be taken by the Commission and the Member States.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
MARE
ENABLING TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE
A new governance framework
Updated on: 2024-11-04
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The Commission has put in place measures to strengthen EU biodiversity governance to enable coherent implementation, progress monitoring and review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The EU Biodiversity Platform, the main expert group for the coordinated implementation of the Strategy, was launched in early 2022 with a strengthened mandate and renewed membership, as well as improved mechanisms to engage with the knowledge community and interact with Commission groups in other policy areas. Online progress tracking tools have been set up including (i) the biodiversity action tracker presenting progress in the implementation of the Strategy's actions, and (ii) a dashboard with a set of indicators to show progress to each EU biodiversity target (under development). The actions under the Strategy are being implemented in a joint effort across Commission services, which are also responsible for the updating of the action tracker. Capacity building support is available to authorities in the Member States under several EU instruments, including the Technical Support Instrument (TSI), TAIEX Peer 2 Peer, GreenAssist and others. See also actions 79-81 on strengthening knowledge governance.
Links:
- GreenAssist
- EUBP on CIRCABC
- TAIEX-EIR Peer 2 Peer tool
- Technical Support Instrument
- EUBP in Transparency Register
- EU Biodiversity Dashboard (under development)
Main Actors:
COM
EEA
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-06-25
Deadline: 2023
Summary: In 2023, the Commission will assess the effectiveness of the biodiversity governance framework and consider whether further measures, including a more binding approach, may be needed. The assessment is underway. The Commission will report on the findings in the 1st quarter of 2024, as part of its upcoming Report on the assessment of progress in the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Stepping up implementation and enforcement of EU environmental legislation
Updated on: 2024-11-04
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The Commission and the Member States will work to increase political support, financial and human resources in order to ensure that environmental-related legislation with an impact on biodiversity (in particular the EU Nature Directives and other key biodiversity legislation, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Water Framework Directive) is implemented, enforced and - where necessary - reviewed and revised.
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2021-12-09
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The 2018 Action Plan on environmental compliance assurance and the Environmental Compliance and Governance Forum aim to support and promote legal compliance and combat environmental crime. In April 2020, a Good practice document on combatting environmental crime was published, in addition to several other actions aimed at reinforcing the capacities of national environmental inspectors, police, prosecutors and judges working on nature-related infringements and crimes. This includes work on training, national complaint-handling mechanisms, and geospatial intelligence. The work will be conducted with the EU-level networks of environmental practitioners, such as ENPE (prosecutors), IMPEL (inspectors), EUFJE (judges) and EnviCrimeNet (police and other enforcement officers) that work together with the Commission’s support on effectively tackling environmental crime, including wildlife crime.
Links:
Main Actors:
MS
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2021-12-14
Deadline: 2020
Summary: On 6 October 2021 the EU adopted the Aarhus Regulation that allows for increased public scrutiny of EU acts affecting the environment. The Commission had proposed the amendment in October 2020, following its commitment under the European Green Deal to improve access to administrative and judicial review at EU level for citizens and environmental non-governmental organisations. The revised Regulation improves the possibilities for civil society to request that EU institutions review their acts with the aim to ensure better environmental protection and a more effective climate action. Under the new rules, applicants may request review of administrative acts of EU institutions that contravene EU environmental law. The challenged acts may be administrative acts of individual scope, but also of general scope and may be adopted in any policy area. In addition to environmental NGOs, applicants may also include, under certain conditions, individuals, or groups of concerned members of the public.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-09-25
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The Environmental Crime Directive is the main horizontal instrument to protect the environment through criminal law. It requires Member States to define environmental crimes including wildlife trafficking and illegal killing or taking specimens of protected wild fauna or flora and to introduce criminal sanctions. On 15 December, the Commission adopted a proposal for a revised Directive to crack down on environmental crime, fulfilling a key commitment of the European Green Deal. The proposal intends to make protection of the environment more effective by obliging Member States to take criminal law measures. It defines new environmental crimes, sets a minimum level for sanctions and strengthens the effectiveness of law enforcement cooperation. It also obliges the Member States to support and assist people who report environmental offences and cooperate with the enforcement.
Links:
- Evaluation report
- Public consultation
- Q&A on ECD revision
- Factsheet ECD revision
- Press release on ECD revision
- Directive (EU) 2024/1203 on the protection of the environment through criminal law
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
JUST
Business for biodiversity
Updated on: 2024-09-25
Deadline: 2021
Summary: This initiative aims to improve the EU regulatory framework on company law and corporate governance. It would enable companies to focus on long-term sustainable value creation rather than short-term benefits. It aims to better align the interests of companies, their shareholders, managers, stakeholders and society. It would help companies to better manage sustainability-related matters in their own operations and value chains as regards social and human rights, climate change and the environment.
Links:
- Sustainable Corporate Governance Initiative on EC website
- Directive (EU) 2024/1760 on corporate sustainability due diligence
- Proposal for a Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
JUST
Updated on: 2024-05-31
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The Commission will continue to support and cooperate with networks of businesses (corporates and investors) working to integrate biodiversity and natural capital considerations into their decision making. The Commission will continue to facilitate the sharing and mainstreaming of best practices by businesses as well as business-driven initiatives and frameworks for measuring and accounting for natural capital impacts and dependencies.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-05-31
Deadline: 2021
Summary: On 21 April 2021, the Commission proposed a Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which would amend the existing reporting requirements of the NFRD. The proposal: • extends the scope to all large companies and all companies listed on regulated markets (except listed micro-enterprises) • requires the audit (assurance) of reported information • introduces more detailed reporting requirements, and a requirement to report according to mandatory EU sustainability reporting standards • requires companies to digitally ‘tag’ the reported information, so it is machine readable and feeds into the European single access point envisaged in the capital markets union action plan. On 5 January 2023 the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) entered into force. A broader set of large companies, as well as listed SMEs, will now be required to report on sustainability – approximately 50 000 companies in total. The first companies will have to apply the new rules for the first time in financial year 2024, for reports published in 2025.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
FISMA
Financing for biodiversity
Updated on: 2024-11-04
Deadline: 2030
Summary: Unlocking the necessary funding to implement the EU Biodiversity Strategy will require increased financing from public budgets and private actors at national and EU level. This will require effective mainstreaming, as well as tracking of biodiversity spending in relevant EU funds, both under the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and under Next Generation EU, the EU recovery plan. Implementation of this action will be supported by the ambition to dedicate 7,5% in 2024, and 10% in 2026 and 2027, of the MFF to biodiversity. This target has been reflected in most regulations pertaining to individual EU funds. The Commission continues to work with the Member States to ensure that funding opportunities for biodiversity are taken up in the programming of national measures under EU funds. The Draft Budget 2024 (Statement of Estimates) shows that the EU will only dedicate 8,6% of the EU budget to biodiversity in 2026, and 8,4% in 2027. In May 2022, the Commission released a study aiming at updating the Commission’s methodology to track biodiversity expenditures in the MFF, and assessing funding needs to implement the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, current levels of funding and the remaining finance gap. The Commission presented the draft biodiversity tracking methodology to the European Parliament, the Council, Member States and stakeholders in Autumn 2021, and released the final methodology in June 2022 – and in June 2023 the biodiversity tracking methodology regarding the CAP. The study also finds that the scale of financing needs to deliver the Strategy, including baseline expenditure, is estimated at around EUR 48 billion annually between 2021 and 2030, i.e. a significantly higher amount than the EUR 20 billion/year highlighted in the Biodiversity Strategy. It also estimates expenditure on biodiversity at ca. EUR 29 billion annually over 2021-2030 including from the MFF and Member States national budgets and private financing. The remaining financing gap is estimated at ca. EUR 19 billion per year from 2021 to 2030. As part of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Parties to the CBD agreed to substantially increase total biodiversity finance (domestic and international, public and private) to at least USD 200 billion per year by 2030. This represents approximately a doubling from the baseline of ca. USD 100 billion per year in 2020. The EU contribution to the implementation of this global commitment will require further efforts from the EU and its Member States in terms of domestic and international biodiversity spending as well as enabling increased contributions from other sources”.
Links:
- Biodiversity Financing
- Biodiversity Mainstreaming
- Study on biodiversity financing and tracking
- New biodiversity tracking methodology for each programme
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
BUDG
Updated on: 2024-11-04
Deadline: 2022
Summary: On 13 April 2023, the Commission published an EU wide assessment of Investment needs and priorities for Natura 2000 and green infrastructure. The assessment is based on the most up-to-date information from the national prioritised action frameworks (PAF) prepared by Member States pursuant to Art. 8 of the EU Habitats Directive. The EU-level PAF follows on the commitment made by the Commission in the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 to update the estimate of the financing needs of the Natura 2000 network, now assessed at 10.2 billion EUR/year. Previous assessments have estimated the ecosystem services provided by Natura 2000 at between 200 and 300 billion EUR/year, far exceeding the costs of managing the network.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2023-04-19
Deadline: 2022
Summary: This pledge is implemented through the development of financial and advisory products for natural capital under InvestEU, building upon the lessons learned from the EU Natural Capital Financing Facility. It covers biodiversity as well as circular economy. An additional technical assistance/advisory component is provided by LIFE (up to 50 million €) to support this action, alongside with an active dialogue with EIB, EIF and other National Promotional Banks. In particular, within this budget commitment, the Green Advisory Service for Sustainable Investments Support (Green Assist) is a new advisory initiative under InvestEU delivered by CINEA under DG ENV coordination. It aims to build a pipeline for green investment projects that have a high impact and greening more traditional investments. Out of the 50 million available, up to 30 are earmarked for Green Assist, whilst up to 20 will finance the “LIFE top-up” to the Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory, practically-speaking financing EIB advisory initiatives supporting green projects.
Links:
- LIFE Natural Capital Financing Facility implemented by EIB
- Green Advisory Service for Sustainable Investments Support: GREEN ASSIST
Main Actors:
COM
CINEA
EIB
Chef de File:
ECFIN
ENV
Updated on: 2024-11-04
Deadline: 2022
Summary: The implementation of this action will operationalise the 'do no harm' principle under the Multiannual Financial Framework and NextGeneration EU. Biodiversity was addressed in the Commission checklist developed in the context of the evaluation of the national Recovery and Resilience Plans (Annex I of the RRF technical guidance) and followed also for the Cohesion policy programmes, as well as in the sustainability proofing guidelines developed in the context of InvestEU. Biodiversity will be integrated in upcoming work on operationalizing the ‘do no harm’ principle across other EU funds and programmes. As part of its ongoing work on environmentally harmful subsidies, the European Commission published in 2022 a study proposing a toolbox and a methodology for reforming environmentally harmful subsidies in Europe. This toolbox investigates the range of environmentally harmful subsidies and those that could be reduced or eliminated relatively easily, generating significant environmental and net fiscal benefits. A ‘Do No Significant Harm’ flagship is also offered in 2022 to Member States under the 2023 Technical Support Instrument (TSI). The Flagship aims at building Member States’ capacity to design and implement an environmental framework in the field of public financial management. It can support the development and piloting of national guidelines for the application of the DNSH principle, the integration of the DNSH principle into national public financial management processes, good practice exchanges and peer-learning.
Links:
- RRF technical guidance
- Sustainability proofing guidelines
- Phasing out Environmentally Harmful Subsidies
- 2023 Flagship Technical Support Project - Technical Support Instrument – Do No Significant Harm
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
AGRI
BUDG
ECFIN
ENV
INTPA
MARE
REGIO
Updated on: 2024-05-31
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The Commission has prepared a Delegated act setting out the technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which an economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to four environmental objectives under the Taxonomy Regulation: (i) the sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, (ii) the transition to a circular economy, (iii) pollution prevention and control and (iv) the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems. Annex IV of the adopted Delegated Act includes the technical screening criteria for the objective on the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems. As such, it establishes a common classification of economic activities that substantially contribute to the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems including forests, wetlands, peatlands, aquatic and marine ecosystems. The Commission adopted the proposal on 27 June 2023.
Links:
- Public Consultation
- Delegated Regulation
- Sustainable Finance Package
- Taxonomy Regulation and Delegated Acts
- Implementing and delegated acts - Taxonomy Regulation
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
FISMA
Updated on: 2023-03-30
Deadline: 2021
Summary: Within the framework of the European green deal, the Commission announced a renewed sustainable finance strategy. The Commission published its ‘strategy for financing the transition to a sustainable economy’ on 6 July 2021. It aims, among others, to facilitate the mainstreaming of biodiversity considerations at every step of the financial system. The initiative will also provide enabling frameworks for the European Green Deal Investment Plan and for the financial system to support a sustainable recovery from COVID-19.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
FISMA
Updated on: 2023-04-19
Deadline: 2030
Summary: This action is about ensuring the full implementation of the Polluter Pays Principle, with markets reflecting biodiversity externalities and providing a full incentive to avoid biodiversity damage. A study funded by the European Parliament was completed at the end of 2021 to inform and support actions by stakeholders and the Member States. A fitness check on the Polluter Pays Principle is ongoing, and will lead to recommendations in 2024. The action will also be supported via the European Semester process.
Links:
- News article - release of Study on Green Taxation
- Have your say: Polluters Pay Principle Fitness Check
- Study on Green Taxation and other economic instruments
- Toolbox for reforming Environmentally Harmful Subsidies
Main Actors:
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
TAXUD
Measuring and integrating the value of nature (NCA)
Updated on: 2024-05-31
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The aim of this action is to support the use of criteria and methods to support decision-making in the public and business sectors and further develop natural capital accounting . This will include support to business-driven developments of principles and methods, as well as setting standards and regulation. The aim is also to integrate biodiversity into the Product Environmental Footprint and Organisations Environmental Footprint methodology.
Links:
- Environmental Footprint
- EU Guidance on integrating ecosystems and their services into decision-making
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-05-31
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The Commission is supporting business and their stakeholders aiming at standardizing natural capital management accounting practices in the EU and globally. It provide LIFE support to the Transparent project --an consortium led by the Value Balancing Alliance – consisting of international companies and large professional services firms (Deloitte, EY, KPMG & PwC), including the Capitals Coalition – a global collaboration of more than 370 organizations, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development to develop a set of generally accepted environmental accounting principles.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2023-04-19
Deadline: 2022
Summary: This action includes the revision of the current EU GPP criteria for office buildings, aligning the criteria with Level(s), the recently published EU framework for sustainable buildings, and assessment of the possibility to expand the scope beyond office buildings only. The revision of the EU GPP criteria is expected to be finalised by the end of 2023.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Knowledge
Updated on: 2021-12-09
Deadline: 2020
Summary: The Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity was launched in October 2020. It is hosted by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and co-led by ENV, in close cooperation with the European Environment Agency. It is a one-stop shop for key information about biodiversity and the impact of related policies; a platform where progress under the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 can be monitored; and an interface for scientists to network, share research results and channel them more effectively to support EU policies.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
EEA
Chef de File:
ENV
JRC
Updated on: 2023-10-03
Deadline: 2027
Summary: Horizon Europe, amongst others, aims in contributing in the effort in halting biodiversity decline and restoring ecosystems by focusing on: (i) understanding & addressing biodiversity decline, (ii) assessing, valuing and restoring ecosystems and natural capital, (iii) nature-based solutions, (iv) transformative change, (v) connecting research for better policies, (vi) biodiversity and human health. Under Horizon Europe, the Commission is working to establish a long-term strategic research agenda for biodiversity and established a science policy mechanism for research-based options for ratcheting up the implementation of biodiversity commitments (Science Service for Biodiversity, within the Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity). The Work Programmes of Horizon Europe 2021-22 and 2023-24, Cluster 6 Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, Destination “Biodiversity”, include respectively 34 and 30 topics specifically targeting biodiversity protection and restoration, with budgets of €2,1 billion and €1,67 billion. The Green Deal Missions on Oceans, Climate Adaptation, Soil and Cities that have been established will also significantly contribute to filling knowledge gaps and finding solutions to improve the health of ecosystems. Mission Ocean and Waters puts research and innovation, citizen engagement and sustainable blue investments at the service of healthy marine and freshwater ecosystems and their biodiversity. To mobilise complementary resources and efforts, the Charter for Mission ocean and waters is also launched.
Links:
- Horizon Europe Missions
- Science service: Publication
- Horizon Europe Strategic Plan
- Mission ocean and waters Charter
- Science service: Funding and tenders (europa.eu)
- Horizon Europe, Cluster 6 Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, Work Programme 2021-22
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
MARE
RTD
Updated on: 2024-04-24
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The European Biodiversity Partnership, Biodiversa+, brings together national research and policy/regulatory bodies responsible for biodiversity, to jointly mobilise coherent, transnational research for finding solutions to be implemented across Europe to halt the loss of biodiversity and to put nature on a path to recovery. This unique partnership is facilitated and co-funded by the European Commission. Its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) has been released in November 2021. Among other activities, the Partnership organizes annual calls to fund transnational research projects. The first call (BiodivProtect) launched in 2021 is funding 36 projects in the field of biodiversity protection, and the second call (BiodivMon) launched in 2022 supports 33 projects that will help to improve transnational biodiversity monitoring. Nature-based solutions (NBS) are the focus of the third call (BiodivNBS) launched in September 2023, with funded projects to be announced before the end of 2024, while societal transformation will be the topic of the fourth call to be launched in September 2024. The Partnership also supports the establishment of a transnational network of biodiversity monitoring schemes, including through a series of pilot projects, and helps making the business case for biodiversity conservation and restoration. More info: https://www.biodiversa.eu/
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
EEA
JRC
MS
REA
Chef de File:
ENV
RTD
Education
Updated on: 2022-04-12
Deadline: 2021
Summary: On 14 January 2022, the Commission published a proposal for a Council Recommendation on learning for environmental sustainability, and a new European sustainability competence framework developed with the Joint Research Centre.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
EAC
EU EXTERNAL ACTION AND AN AMBITIOUS GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY AGENDA
Raising the level of ambition and commitment worldwide
Updated on: 2023-04-12
Deadline: 2022
Summary: On 19 December, a new Global Biodiversity Framework was agreed at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal, Canada. This landmark agreement includes four ambitious goals and 23 targets for 2030, including to place under effective protection 30% of land and 30% of oceans, restore 30% of degraded ecosystems, reduce to near zero the loss of high biodiversity areas, as well as reduce by half excess nutrients and the risk posed by pesticides and hazardous chemicals. To enable transformative change, the global agreement includes commitments to progressively phase out or reform subsidies that harm biodiversity by at least 500 billion USD/year, secure 30 billion USD for biodiversity by 2030, and strengthen the disclosure of risks, dependencies and impacts on biodiversity for large and transnational businesses and financial institutions.
Links:
- CBD COP15 webpage
- Statement by President von der Leyen on the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity agreement
Main Actors:
COM
EEA
JRC
MS
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-03-18
Deadline: 2022
Summary: The High-Ambition Coalition for Nature and People aims to protect 30% of land and seas, foster nature-based solutions and an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework. The European Commission and 23 Member States are currently Members of the Coalition. The Commission has also launched a Coalition of Botanical Gardens, Zoos, Aquaria and Research Centres for mobilising citizens’ support across the globe.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
International Ocean Governance
Updated on: 2024-11-04
Deadline: 2022
Summary: Covering nearly two-thirds of the world’s oceans and about 95% of their volume, areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) comprise the high seas (water column) and the subjacent international seabed (the Area). These areas contain a rich biodiversity of both ecological and socioeconomic importance. However, this biodiversity is under mounting pressure, including from overexploitation, pollution, the impacts of climate change, and the spread of invasive species. The increasing demand for marine resources in the coming decades – for food, minerals or biotechnology – risks further exacerbating this problem. Faced with these challenges and following over a decade of preparatory work, an overwhelming majority of States in the United Nations agreed in 2017 on the need for a new legally binding instrument under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to conserve and sustainably use marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (the "BBNJ Agreement"). The negotiations of the new BBNJ Agreement have been completed in March 2023. This international agreement further implements existing principles in UNCLOS to achieve a more holistic management of high seas activities, which should better balance the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. These principles include the obligation of cooperation, the science-based approach to the conservation and management of marine resources, the duty to protect and preserve the marine environment, and the duty to undertake prior impact assessment of activities. The agreement covers four areas: 1) marine genetic resources and the sharing of benefit; 2) area based management tools, including marine protected areas; 3) environmental impact assessments; and 4) capacity building and the transfer of marine technology. It further supports the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular Sustainable Development Goal 14 (“Life Below Water”). It offers perspectives with regard to establishing procedures for identifying and managing marine protected areas in the high seas. The EU and its Member States have been engaged in this process since its beginning. They have launched a High Ambition Coalition in February 2022, at the One Ocean Summit, to enhance momentum and mobilize countries in support of achieving an ambitious and inclusive agreement the soonest. They were among the first to sign the new treaty and engaged in the ratification process. The EU has completed its ratification process and is ready to ratify the new Treaty by the Third UN Ocean Conference that will take place in France in June 2025. The EU Member States are also engaged in the ratification process, pursuing the same objective.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
MARE
Updated on: 2024-11-15
Deadline: 2022
Summary: The EU and its Member States have submitted two MPA proposals to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), one in East Antarctica (since 2012) and another in the Weddell Sea (Phase 1) (since 2016). Although both proposals are based on best available science, they have never managed to reach consensus due to continued opposition from two CCAMLR Members. The two MPA proposals are also co-sponsored by the United States, New Zealand, South Korea, India, Ukraine, Australia, Uruguay, Norway and the United Kingdom. Chile joined as a co-sponsor of the Weddell Sea Phase 1 MPA proposal in 2022 and as a co-sponsor of the East Antarctic MPA proposal in 2024. Two more proposals are currently under consideration at CCAMLR: the proposal from Chile and Argentina to create a MPA in the (Western) Antarctic Peninsula, and the proposal from Norway and the United Kingdom for the Weddell Sea Phase 2 MPA (which complements our Phase 1 proposal).
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
MARE
Updated on: 2024-11-05
Deadline: 2025
Summary: In international negotiations, the EU should advocate that marine minerals in the international seabed area cannot be exploited before the effects of deep-sea mining on the marine environment, biodiversity and human activities have been sufficiently researched, the risks are understood and the technologies and operational practices are able to demonstrate no serious harm to the environment, in line with the precautionary principle and taking into account the call of the European Parliament. However, the role of the European Commission at the Council meetings of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) so far has been limited to its capacity of observer. In June 2022, the European Commission and the EU's High Representative issued a joint Communication "Setting the course for a sustainable blue planet - Joint Communication on the EU’s International Ocean Governance agenda". In the Communication, the Commission advocates for prohibiting deep-sea mining until these scientific gaps are properly filled, that it can be demonstrated that no harmful effects arise from mining and, as required under the UNCLOS, the necessary provisions in the exploitation regulations for the effective protection of the marine environment are in place.
Links:
- Setting the course for a sustainable blue planet - Joint Communication on the EU’s International Ocean Governance agenda
- Proposal for a Council decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the meetings of the Council and the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
MARE
Trade policy
Updated on: 2023-03-28
Deadline: 2022
Summary: The multilateral negotiations in the World Trade Organization (WTO) delivered an important contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Target 14.6 to prohibiting certain harmful fisheries subsidies. The 12th Ministerial Conference of the WTO in June 2022 adopted an outcome document recognising biodiversity loss as a global challenge, along with climate change and pollution, and adopted a new WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. The EU strives to have this agreement to enter into forces as soon as possible and committed to further negotiations to complement the multilateral rules disciplining harmful fisheries subsidies.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
MARE
Updated on: 2023-02-06
Deadline: 2030
Summary: Enforcing biodiversity provisions in all trade agreements will require engaging in discussions for better cooperation on biodiversity with Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partner countries at bilateral and multilateral level. It will also imply monitoring the impacts of trade on biodiversity and partner countries' implementation of commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In the Communication on “The power of trade partnerships: together for green and just economic growth” (June 2022), the Commission proposes to reinforce the collective monitoring of the implementation of Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) commitments as well as stronger involvement of civil society. The Commission further commits to strengthen the enforcement of TSD commitments in future agreements by proposing to EU trading partners to extend the general state-to-state dispute settlement compliance stage to the TSD chapter, involve the Domestic Advisory Groups in monitoring the compliance stage, and prioritise the enforcement of TSD cases based on the importance of the nature of the commitments at issue, the seriousness of their violation and the impact on the environment. On biodiversity more specifically, the Communication emphasises that the impact of trade liberalisation on biodiversity “will play an important role” in the impact assessments of EU FTAs. On 15 December 2021, the EU and other 70 members of the WTO adopted a Ministerial Statement on Trade and Sustainable Development Structured Discussions (TESSD), an initiative to discuss trade-related measures and policies that can best contribute to climate and environmental goals.
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
TRADE
Updated on: 2022-08-19
Deadline: 2030
Summary: A study has been published in 2021 on developing a methodology to assess trade liberalization impacts on biodiversity. This methodology is used in trade agreements evaluations and will help to identify actions to strengthen the biodiversity provisions of trade agreements. This methodology is used in both ex-ante and ex-post evaluations of trade agreements. In line with the Communication on “The power of trade partnerships: together for green and just economic growth” (June 2022), environmental priorities should be developed involving civil society and already feature in the impact assessment preceding the launch of negotiations, but then be further refined during the sustainability impact assessment, and assessed in ex-post analysis during implementation. The impact of trade liberalisation on biodiversity will play an important role in assessments of trade agreements.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
TRADE
Deforestation, wildlife trafficking, illicit trade
Updated on: 2023-06-12
Deadline: 2021
Summary: Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation was adopted on 31 May 2023. The Regulation aims to minimise the EU’s contribution to deforestation and forest degradation worldwide and promote the consumption of products from deforestation-free supply chains in the EU.
Links:
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1115
- Proposal for a regulation on deforestation-free products
- Council General approach on deforestation and forest degradation
- European Parliament report on deforestation and forest degradation
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2022-11-10
Deadline: 2021
Summary: The illegal trade in wild plants and animals remains a significant threat to nature and to human well-being. It contributes to the decline of biodiversity, threatens the livelihoods of local communities, undermines the rule of law, and brings with it public health risks. The EU action plan against wildlife trafficking has been revised to strengthen the efforts of EU institutions and EU countries to coordinate and address the most important sources of the problem.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2021-12-16
Deadline: 2021
Summary: On 16 December 2021, the Commission adopted new measures towards effectively banning most forms of EU trade in ivory, as announced in the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. While the EU is not identified as a region of concern regarding illegal ivory trade, the revision of the existing EU rules on ivory trade reaffirms and delivers on the EU’s commitment to take further action against elephant poaching and ivory trafficking globally. This additional step came a day after the Commission adopted a proposal for a new EU Directive to crack down on environmental crime.
Links:
- Ending most ivory trade in the EU - Guidance and Amendments
- Wildlife trade – alignment of EU rules with recent decisions taken under the CITES convention and changes to EU ivory trade rules
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
ENV
Updated on: 2024-08-02
Deadline: 2022
Summary: The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigates fraud against the EU budget, corruption and serious misconduct within the European institutions, and develops anti-fraud policy. This action aims at equipping OLAF with coordinating and investigative capacities to work with Member States and non-EU countries to prevent illicit trade and the entry of illicit products into the Single Market.
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
OLAF
Updated on: 2022-08-16
Deadline: 2030
Summary: Aid for Trade (AfT) is a 2005 WTO-led initiative; it encompasses a third of EU projects and programmes in support of trade and productive capacities in EU partner countries. The aim is to mobilise AfT to facilitate the transition towards more environmentally sustainable development and growth models, including by supporting biodiversity-friendly trade. This can fit within the broader AfT objective of assisting countries’ transition to low carbon and climate change resilient economies.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
TRADE
INTPA
International cooperation, neighbourhood policy and resource mobilisation
Updated on: 2022-08-16
Deadline: 2030
Summary: EU external action and cooperation on biodiversity includes direct support to conservation, sustainable use, restoration, sharing of benefits, the mainstreaming of nature across development sectors and policies and the transition in development and investment models towards more biodiversity and ecosystem friendly pathways. The EU will continue to support the multilateral biodiversity agenda and the preparation of the future global biodiversity framework. This will include continued financial support through the Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation - Global Europe Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe). The President of the Commission announced in the State of the Union speech (September 2021) that the EU would double its external funding for biodiversity, in particular for the most vulnerable countries. The Commission is working on the operationalization of this commitment.
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
INTPA
NEAR
Updated on: 2023-11-10
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The aim is to bring all EU neighbourhood countries on board in the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, particularly those aspiring for EU membership. The Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and the new Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III) will be the primary financial instrument under the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) to support the EU neighbourhood and Western Balkans, including sustainable management of natural resources. In September 2021 State of the Union Address, Commission President Von Der Leyen announced that the EU would double its external funding for biodiversity, especially for the most vulnerable countries.
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
NEAR
Updated on: 2023-01-23
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The NaturAfrica initiative identifies key areas and landscapes in Sub-Saharan Africa for EU action to tackle biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation while enabling sustainable green development and bringing multiple benefits to local communities, partner countries and the EU. In the short term, it will develop actions in key landscapes for conservation and development, building on the positive benefits that protected areas bring to society and the economy, encouraging networks of protected areas and knowledge-sharing. In the medium term, it will extend support beyond key landscapes to address the root causes of biodiversity loss and environmental degradation while mainstreaming biodiversity and improving governance. Multiple initiatives linking action on biodiversity and ecosystems to sustainable green development and benefits to / participation of local communities are being prepared in other regions as part of Multiannual Indicative Programs, with a strong Team Europe Dimension (targeting for instance Sahel, Amazon or the Pacific) including an increasing focus on action in support of cross-border landscapes.
Links:
Main Actors:
COM
Chef de File:
INTPA
Updated on: 2022-08-16
Deadline: 2030
Summary: None
Main Actors:
MS
COM
Chef de File:
INTPA
Updated on: 2023-04-12
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The considerations for implementing of the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework highlight the urgent need to reduce pressures on biodiversity and decrease environmental degradation to reduce risks to health, and, as appropriate, develop practical access and benefit-sharing arrangements. The Commission supports the adoption of a Global action plan for biodiversity and health. It applies the One Health approach when dealing with zoonotic diseases. Specific financial support to One Health activities is provided by EU4Health.
Main Actors:
COM
MS
Chef de File:
SANTE
Updated on: 2022-08-19
Deadline: 2030
Summary: The Commission is actively working to mainstream biodiversity throughout a number of bilateral and multilateral agreements. The Commission is promoting such mainstreaming for example in the World Trade Organization (WTO) context. In December 2021, the EU and other 70 members of the WTO adopted a Ministerial Statement on Trade and Sustainable Development Structured Discussions (TESSD), an initiative to discuss trade related measures and policies that can best contribute to climate and environmental goals. This could potentially include trade aspects linked to protecting and conserving biodiversity and halting its loss. Furthermore, the 12th Ministerial Conference of the WTO met in June 2022 and adopted an outcome document recognising the loss of biodiversity as a global challenge, along with climate change and pollution. It is the first time ever that WTO Ministers make such a consensual statement.
Main Actors:
COM
EEAS
Chef de File:
NEAR
INTPA
EEAS
FPI
Review of progress
Updated on: 2024-07-31
Deadline: 2024
Summary: In March 2024, the Commission published its mid-term review of the 8th Environment Action Programme (8EAP). The report includes an assessment of progress in implementing the actions set out in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, as well as in putting in place enabling measures to support implementation and transformative change (cf. Action 61 on assessing biodiversity governance effectiveness). The report draws on the European Environmental Agency (EEA)’s monitoring report on progress towards the objectives of the 8EAP. On 31 July, the Commission submitted to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) EU targets aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The CBD Secretariat will prepare an analysis of the received targets (and further information in revised National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans) in view of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the CBD on 21 October – 1 November 2024.
Links:
- CBD Online Reporting Tool
- EEA Monitoring Report on progress towards the 8th EAP objectives
- Commission Report on the 8th Environment Action Programme Mid-term Review
Main Actors:
COM
EEA
Chef de File:
ENV