Half of all chemical herbicides should be gone by 2030, the European Commission urges in new proposals on pesticides and biodiversity.
With two major proposals that should actually have been presented already this spring, the European Commission hopes to be able to contribute to a better nature by the year 2030.
At that time, restoration measures should have been implemented on 20 percent of all EU land and water surfaces.
“When we restore nature, we allow it to provide itself with clean air, clean water and clean food, and we enable it to protect itself from the worst of the climate crisis,” said Frans Timmermans, Deputy Commissioner for Climate Change, in a press release.
The restoration proposal includes that the member states will be obliged to develop binding plans and goals to protect everything between green areas in cities to the amount of butterflies and birds in the land. The forests will become more vibrant, with more trees of different ages. Dams and other obstacles must be removed so that at least 2,500 km of European rivers flow freely.
“This is a law for all people in Europe and future generations, a healthy planet and a healthy economy,” said Environment Commissioner Virginíjus Sinkevicius.
The second proposal is aimed at the use of herbicides, where the Commission wants to reduce the amount of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030.
“To save our land, air and food and ultimately the health of our citizens,” said Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides in the press release.
To facilitate the transition, Member States will be able to use funds from the EU’s large agricultural subsidies.