Debate: EU Biodiversity Strategy for : Bringing nature back into our lives
Date: MONDAY, 7 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Virginijus Sinkevičius
Language: EN

Biodiversity is truly a cross—cutting issue and we can only succeed in reversing its decline if we have all the relevant actors on board. I therefore appreciate the broad and honest debate in this House, as well as your spirit of compromise, which has allowed for large support for the draft resolution you have tabled for this plenary.  When the Commission published the EU Biodiversity Strategy in May last year, it drew on a clear scientific evidence. Healthy nature shapes the environment and the climate in which humanity can thrive. Science is telling us that biodiversity, the unique fabric of life on the earth, is under intolerable strain.  Decades of unsustainable human activities have changed our climate, altered ecosystems, polluted our environment, over—exploited species and caused the spread of invasive alien species. If we continue down this path, we risk irreparable damage to the foundations of our well—being and prosperity. Let us not forget that almost half of global GDP, some EUR 40 trillion, depends on nature.  We would undermine our chances of coping with climate change. We would even expose our children to an existential risk. We have no alternative, no excuse, and indeed very little time. But we must seize the moment and bring radical changes in the way we produce, consume and trade.  Looking back on the first year of implementing the Biodiversity Strategy and the impressive list of deliverables, I can see a lot has been done but we still have so much more to do. We are making progress on the implementation of 100+ actions which we committed to deliver by 2030. The Commission has drafted guidance and engaged with national authorities and stakeholders in the design of measures to implement the EU biodiversity commitments. We have made progress in preparing new legislation underpinned by in—depth impact assessment, as well as new policy strategies on a range of topics from nature restoration to forests and soil. We’re working with Member States to ensure that biodiversity will be high on the list of national priorities when funding and investment decisions are made under EU long—term budget, in particular under common agricultural policy funds, as well as in the national recovery and resilience plans.  The process for preparing the post—2020 Global Biodiversity Framework at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in China is also gathering speed. The EU has positioned itself as the global leader. We now have to leverage this position and build a coalition for a global biodiversity framework that can achieve the vision of living in harmony with nature, in tandem with the world’s efforts to tackle climate change.  It is important that we all recognise that this is an agenda of common interest with no feasible alternative. We know what needs to be done to put the EU and global biodiversity on the path to recovery. And we have a unique opportunity to steer a fair transition and create multiple wins in the post—COVID—19 recovery. This is our chance to demonstrate that effective protection, restoration and mainstreaming of biodiversity throughout all sectors is possible and brings tangible benefits to all.  As regards the external angle, sustainability is a central pillar in the trade policy review communication of the Commission of February 2021. It aims to further enhance the contribution of trade in achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal, while of course respecting our international obligations.  The road ahead will not always be straight and it certainly won’t be easy, but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic. With the European Green Deal we have new political momentum. The ambition of the Biodiversity Strategy was endorsed by the Council, and I very much look forward to seeing also the European Parliament’s resolution adopted. I hope its encouraging ambition can be maintained. Your strong support, your proposals and your continued involvement in the implementation of our strategy will be essential for the success of our efforts in the EU and around the world.