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European Parliament shows determination on biodiversity protection

16 January 2020
by WWF -- last modified 16 January 2020

Today, the European Parliament gave a resounding 'yes' to biodiversity protection and restoration by voting for a strong EU position at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP 15 summit in October of this year. With one million species facing extinction, time is of the essence.


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At the CBD COP 15, a global biodiversity framework to 2030 will be agreed. Today's resolution calls for the EU to lead the way at the COP in a global legally binding agreement to bend the curve of biodiversity loss by 2030. It also asks for an ambitious EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy to address the main drivers of biodiversity loss, and set legally binding targets for the EU and the Member States.  The resolution calls for a conservation objective of at least 30% of natural areas and an objective of restoring at least 30% of degraded ecosystems, both globally and in the EU.

Sabien Leemans, Senior Policy Officer for Biodiversity at WWF European Policy Office:

"Credible EU leadership at COP 15 hinges on coherent domestic action. By bringing a strong EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy to the table, the EU can truly lead the way in the discussions on the global biodiversity framework."

Furthermore, given the importance of restoring natural ecosystems for both climate and biodiversity, it is also positive that the resolution calls for an EU-wide legally binding target to restore degraded habitats by 2030, through the restoration of natural forests, peatlands, floodplains, wetlands, biodiversity rich grasslands, coastal zones and marine areas.

Today's resolution, coupled with yesterday's vote that not only passed the European Green Deal, but upgraded it, has shown that the Parliament is fully behind the Commission's environmental ambitions and wants to raise the bar by calling for ambitious and enforceable legal measures and binding targets on nature protection and restoration in the upcoming EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy.

"The European Parliament has given a clear signal to the Commission in support of ambitious and legally binding targets to bring nature back. The Commission must now answer the call of both the Parliament and European citizens when presenting the 2030 EU Biodiversity Strategy" said Sabien Leemans, Senior Policy Officer for Biodiversity at WWF European Policy Office. "The Member States must also continue the momentum by similarly agreeing ambitious, concrete and legally binding targets for biodiversity in the June Environment Council when they discuss the 2030 global biodiversity framework."

The European Policy Office helps shape EU policies that impact on the European and global environment.

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