– An essential component of the Green Deal has been put on ice again for the time being: disaster for the climate, biodiversity, us humans and European democracy
Vienna (OTS) –
- UWD demands an immediate end to the federal state blockade – Austria must say YES to the EU nature conservation law!
The Nature Restoration Law has been being negotiated in the EU for more than two years. The content was negotiated in countless meetings between the EU and the member states, and the law’s teeth were pulled in many areas. The compromise version was adopted by a majority of member states in 2023. On March 25th, only the rubber stamp for the important law to save nature should be put in a formal act. But some member states are now letting the deal collapse just before the final decision. Hungary decided at the last moment to withdraw its consent for political reasons, thereby torpedoing the agreement reached democratically in the three European institutions of the Council, Commission and Parliament.
Intact ecosystems are crucial to combating the climate and biodiversity crisis
„We need the law to stop the escalating environmental crises of our time – biodiversity loss and global warming. The preservation of biodiversity and diverse natural landscapes are essential for our survival as humans and a prerequisite for successful climate protection
“, so Franz Maier, President of the environmental umbrella organization. Recreation and thriving tourism in species-rich landscapes, living soils for healthy food, livable cities and clean water – who could seriously have a problem with that? Nevertheless, the path to the EU nature conservation law is turning out to be a marathon.
Environmental umbrella organization calls on federal states to end blocking the law as quickly as possible
Austria has the opportunity to send a signal in the coming weeks – the attack on the EU’s democratic processes by Hungary must be stopped! The Austrian Minister Leonore Gewessler is asked to abstain from voting due to a state resolution from 2022 (!). However, this decision is based on a negotiation status that has long been outdated, which is why the environmental umbrella organization fundamentally questions its validity. “We therefore demand from Austria an end to the blockade and a clear YES to the Nature Restoration Law – because the individual federal states must also make a contribution to preserve nature and thus our livelihood for current and future generations!
“, summarizes Gábor Wichmann, Vice President of the Environmental Association and Managing Director of BirdLife Austria. “The fact that the federal states are fighting the renaturation law that is beneficial to them cannot be surpassed in terms of short-sightedness,” he said Maier finally.
Questions & Contact:
Environmental umbrella organization, Dr. Sylvia Steinbauer, press and public relations
+43140113-21, sylvia.steinbauer@umweltdachverband.at, https://www.umweltdachverband.at