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SoGreen Alliance sends letters of support for EU Nature Restoration Law
The SoGreen Alliance, a cooperation of eight European associations of urban green professionals, has sent today letters of support for the EU Nature Restoration Law to the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU and to EU-Commissioner Sinkevičius. On Monday March 25th it was the intention to adopt the law in the Environment Council, but due to the fact that there was no qualified majority anymore the voting was taken off the agenda. The SoGreen Alliance is very concerned about what will happen next. In the letters of support the Alliance emphasizes on the enormous opportunities in the urban chapter of the Nature Restoration Law. The Alliance calls on the Belgian Presidency to take all efforts needed leading to the adoption of the law before the end of their current mandate.
In the letters to the Belgian Presidency, addressed to Belgian Prime Minister De Croo and Brussels Minister of Environment Maron, the SoGreen Alliance summarizes why the Nature Restoration Law is of great importance for the urban area. ELCA Secretary General Egbert Roozen writes on behalf of the Alliance: “The quality of life in the urban area is under pressure. Cities are, due to climate change, vulnerable. Heavy rain showers and high temperatures, that occur more in the future, lead to growing health, social and economic risks and damage. Cities can be a thriving force for the creation of innovative green solutions that have multiple benefits for a better climate, biodiversity and public health. The fact that the European Union is pushing this force forward makes that we act towards the same goals in the same pace. The EU wants to leave no one behind in the green transition that we must make. We underline the importance of the EU Nature Restoration Law by also having eye for the well-being of all citizens.”
True and comprehensive green transition
The EU Nature Restoration Law, the fifth and indispensable pillar of the EU Green Deal, sets targets till 2030, 2040 and 2050. Roozen: “That means that we have a clear path way to develop. By making dedicated plans, we make the transition according to set ambitions on national and local level and a realistic planning. For too long the importance of the green transition in the urban area has been acknowledged, but the prioritization remained low on the agenda and actions were fragmented or depending on circumstances. We appreciate it that the EU takes now the lead in starting a true and comprehensive green transition wave in the urban area. The EU Nature Restoration Law is going to make the difference based on clear regulation and defined targets.”
Acknowledgement key-values of greenery and nature-based solutions
In 2011 the European Commission introduced the strategy Nature Based Solutions in Renaturing the Cities under Horizon 2020. Since then a lot of research and innovation on the effects of greenery and nature-based solutions has been done. “We act according to scientific evidence and are able to innovate. We appreciate it very much, that greenery and nature-based solutions are now a vital part of European policies to address the societal challenges that we face on climate, biodiversity and public health. We as urban green professionals bring in our knowledge and experiences about greenery and nature-based solutions to achieve and maintain these multiple benefits. We offer our support in the further elaboration of the law on European level and activate our members to be stakeholder in the definition and implementation of the national and local restoration plans”, according to Roozen.
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SoGreen Alliance embraces result voting European Parliament on Nature Restoration Law
The SoGreen Alliance, in which eight European associations of urban green professionals cooperate (www.onthegreenmove.com), has followed the voting yesterday in the European Parliament on the Nature Restoration Law with great interest. The Alliance is delighted about the fact that the law is adopted. Although the regulations for nature restoration in the urban area have been weakened, the compromise embraces the conviction that greening cities is a basic need in making them climate resilient and a better place to live for humans, plants and animals. It also makes, looking at the European green diversity, the translation to local and regional circumstances. Urban green professionals deliver their professionalism of the application and maintenance of greenery and nature based solutions that answers to societal challenges there. Our plead, that urban green professionals should be involved as early as possible in the policy, planning and design process, grows to reality when the Nature Restoration Law enters into force.
For the first time in 70 years, the European Union adopts regulation for nature restoration. For the urban green professionals, united within the SoGreen Alliance, this is also a historic moment. The Nature Restoration Law acknowledges the benefits of greenery and nature based solutions as an answer to societal challenges on climate, biodiversity and health and sets a clear perspective in the further development of green urban areas. In the law that was adopted yesterday in the European Parliament, the text was redefined according to the recent compromise reached within the European Council. The definition is now that member states take care for no net loss of green spaces and tree canopy in the total surface of national urban ecosystems by the end of 2030. There is an exemption when there is already more than 45% coverage of green spaces and 10% coverage of tree canopy in the total surface of the national urban ecosystems. After 2030 the member states shall ensure that there is an upward trend of urban green space in the total national area realized by green buildings and green infrastructure till a satisfactory level is reached. This will be measured every six years. The same counts for an upward trend in tree canopy cover. In the amendments there was also attention for the use of native and climate resilient plants, shrubs and trees. To have a clear view on the starting point, there must be an inventory made. After that, restoring plans must be prepared and there will be frequent monitoring on the results.
In the coming months, there will be negotiations in a trialogue between the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission under Spanish Presidency. Then the Nature Restoration Law will be finally defined. The SoGreen Alliance will put forward its point of view at the negotiations table and supports the further elaboration of the law.
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Note for the editors, not for publication: If you might have any questions, you can contact mr Egbert Roozen (secretary general of the ELCA) by sending an email to contact@elca.info. Partners in the SoGreen Alliance (www.onthegreenmove.com) are: European Arboricultural Council, European Federation Green Roofs and Living Walls associations, European Interior Landscaping Organization, European Landscape Contractors Association, European Nurserystock Association, International Federation of Landscape Architects Europe, International Organization of Natural Bathing Waters, World Urban Parcs Europe.
Urban green professionals have strongly believe in the Nature Restoration Law
In a statement to EU Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans the SoGreen Alliance, in which eight European associations of professionals in urban green cooperate, embraces with great enthusiasm, the objectives of the Nature Restoration Law for the urban area. The Alliance sees many opportunities to make an effective contribution to the further development of a healthy and sustainable urban environment. Thanks to prior EU-initiatives on for example nature based solutions in renaturing the cities and the green infrastructure, urban green professionals are able to create solutions with natural greenery for societal challenges on climate, biodiversity and health of people. They are ready to realize the green transition in the urban area. The Nature Restoration Law is a welcome measure to work on this structurally and should be adopted. The SoGreen Alliance calls therefore on EU Executive Vice-President Timmermans to keep the solutions, that urban green professionals in the framework of this law can offer, in mind during his dialogues with the European Parliament and the Council.
The SoGreen Alliance considers the Nature Restoration Law, as part of the Green Deal, also as a logical follow up on prior EU-initiatives for greener cities. More than 10 years ago, the European Commission put for example the application of nature, solutions inspired by nature and green infrastructures for a sustainable urban environment on the agenda. These initiatives have led to scientific and innovative partnerships and show that greenery offers effective solutions if it is involved in the policy and planning/design process early and the maintenance is guaranteed for a longer term. Thanks to all joint efforts, it is possible to realize greenery with social benefits in gardens, public spaces and on roofs, walls and inside buildings.
With all knowledge, skills and experience of greenery in the urban area, it is according to the SoGreen Alliance time for commitment to the objectives of the Nature Restoration Law for greener cities. New developments can be realized in a perfectly sustainable and nature-inclusive way. In addition to all kinds of other societal challenges, the existing urban area must undergo a transition in the coming years in order to limit damage caused by heavy rainfall, high temperatures and drought. In recent years, the urban area has become increasingly important as a habitat for animals, partly due to the great diversity of plants and nesting facilities. Much more is possible. Moreover, citizens have the right to a healthy living environment that is now regularly under pressure due to for example poor air quality, heat stress and noise pollution. Greenery offers solutions for these issues, but is often pushed into the background for short-term or financial reasons.
The SoGreen Alliance and all professionals in urban green are convinced that a brighter green future in cities lies ahead when the Nature Restoration Law is adopted. We want to put our shoulders firmly under bringing the aims of this law into practice with greenery that offers societal benefits for us all.
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Note for the editors, not for publication: If you might have any questions, you can contact mr Egbert Roozen (secretary general of the ELCA) by sending an email to contact@elca.info.
Partners in the SoGreen Alliance (www.onthegreenmove.com) are: European Arboricultural Council, European Federation Green Roofs and Living Walls associations, European Interior Landscaping Organization, European Landscape Contractors Association, European Nurserystock Association, International Federation of Landscape Architects Europe, International Organization of Natural Bathing Waters, World Urban Parks Europe.
The ELCA Green Award is a competition to promote living green by and with landscape contractors. Develop an ever-growing platform with and between the companies of the ELCA Committee of Firms.
The ELCA Green Award is presented to the VHG President, the association that introduced the winning project, at the ceremony of the ELCA Green Award for The Green Park competition 2021. The announcement of the results in collaboration with UNEP – France takes place at the professional fair PAYSALIA 2021 dd 1 December 2021.
Press release_ELCA Green Award_Paysalia 2021
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