Green Deal: EU Commission Presents EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy
Posted on December 08, 2020
30-Jun-2020
The biodiversity strategy presented by the EU Commission on May 20 is a cornerstone of the European Green Deal. The aim is to put European biodiversity on the road to recovery for the benefit of people, the planet, the climate and the economy. The strategy addresses the five main causes of biodiversity loss, establishes an improved governance framework to fill remaining gaps, ensures full implementation of EU legislation and pools all existing efforts. By 2030, at least 30% of the land area and marine areas of the EU are to be declared legal protected areas. Damaged ecosystems on land and at sea should be restored, e.g. by reducing the use of pesticides. For the biodiversity, EUR 20 billion per year is to be raised from the EU funds, national and private funding, among others.
The development of a healthier and more sustainable EU food system is another cornerstone of the European Green Deal. The aim of the “From the farm to the table” strategy published on May 20 is to reduce the ecological footprint of the EU food system and to strengthen its resilience. In the face of climate change, food security is to be ensured against the loss of biodiversity and the global change towards competitive sustainability is to be led. Among other things, this should lead to neutral or positive environmental impacts of the food chain from production via transport and distribution to marketing and consumption, facilitate access to sufficient, nutritious and sustainable food and link affordable food prices to a fairer economic return.
The EU Commission is currently preparing the “Green Deal Call” with a planned total budget of EUR 1 billion, which should contribute to the priorities of the European “Green Deal”. Broad funding is planned across eleven subject areas, including energy and mobility. Interdisciplinary topics and systemic, cross-sectoral approaches are to be promoted. The focus is on central measures with high visibility that have an impact in a relatively short period of time. Pilot applications, demonstrations and concrete solutions are planned. The tender is expected to open in mid-September 2020.
