Green TD Steven Matthews has welcomed the passing of the EU Nature Restoration Law which will require EU member states to restore nature on a fifth of the EU’s land and seas by 2030. Discussing the new piece of EU legislation, Deputy Matthews said:
“I am delighted to see that the Nature Restoration Law has finally been agreed by all EU member states. This is an incredibly important piece of legislation which the Green Party fought hard to advance at an EU level. It is the first EU law to introduce legally-binding targets for the restoration of nature.
“The passage of this law is a landmark moment for environmental protection in Ireland. It follows work that we have done locally in Wicklow to protect our natural habitats. I was a member of Wicklow County Council when we declared a Climate Emergency and I led the negotiations to establish the Climate and Biodiversity Strategic Policy Committee making us the leading local authority on this issue.
“We are in a climate and biodiversity crisis, and it is important that we continue to work at a local, national and EU level to restore our most fragile and vulnerable ecosystems. The Green Party has led on this issue in Government by increasing funding for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, appointing Biodiversity Officers in local authorities across the country and delivering the first National Biodiversity Action Plan. Implementing the Nature Restoration Law is the next step forward.
“We need to act now to protect our natural environment for our children and for future generations. As TD for Wicklow, I will continue to advocate for the restoration of ecologically sensitive areas across our county”, Deputy Matthews concluded.
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