Business Statement

To

Alexander de Croo
Prime Minister of Belgium;  

Alain Maron
Minister of Climate Transition, Environment, Energy, Cleanliness, Participatory Democracy,
Health and Social Action of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region.

Nature is the Belgian Council Presidency’s business

Brussels, 29 May 2024 

Dear Prime Minister, 
Dear Minister, 

We, the undersigned businesses and business associations operating in Belgium and in the whole EU, are asking you, as key representatives of the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council, to ensure the final adoption of the Nature Restoration Law under the Belgian Presidency.

There has been an alarming loss of natural habitats. Together with climate change, this puts human livelihoods and the foundations for our economic activities at risk. To bend the curve of biodiversity decline, protecting remaining natural places will not be sufficient – we need to invest in large-scale restoration as well (1). 

For that reason, the European Commission has presented a proposal for a regulation on nature restoration, which is currently awaiting to be approved by the Council. Large-scale restoration of habitats, their species and the multiple ecosystem services from which we all benefit, will ultimately help tackle the climate crisis, ensure our long-term food and water security, as well as protect and create new employment opportunities. It will help us sustain jobs, the foundations of economic activities and the sectors that rely on healthy ecosystems.   

More than 50% of the global economy or global GDP is highly or moderately dependent on nature. We, businesses, need the natural resources and ecosystem services that are now under threat from biodiversity loss and climate change. Failure to act will lead to costly disruptions across supply chains, lower productivity and higher operational costs. Nature restoration can ensure long-term sustainability for businesses and conserve the resources on which many of our economic activities depend. In addition, the European Commission’s impact assessment for its proposed EU Nature Restoration Law found that for every €1 invested in nature restoration, €8 to €38 is gained thanks to climate change mitigation, prevention and reduction of natural disasters, improved water quality, cleaner air, healthier soils and boosting people’s overall wellbeing. 

Healthier soils, reliable water retention, abundant fish populations and an array of pollinator species are essential to both food production and human well-being (2).  

In our seas, restored areas have seen fish species on the brink of collapse come back in such bountiful numbers that seafood catches increased in nearby waters, creating additional jobs and revenue in EU blue economy sectors (3). For inland waters, restored free-flowing rivers help regulate the temperature of the land and sea, transport nutrients and minerals, and keep nature and people healthy and safe by dissolving pollutants and ensuring sediment transport.  

The EU Nature Restoration law is a generation’s opportunity to take concrete and effective action to reverse the biodiversity and climate crises. By restoring EU land and sea areas at large scale, we can guarantee the long-term sustainability and viability of our society and economy.  

We, the undersigned Belgian and European businesses and business associations, are calling for the Belgian Presidency of the Council to ensure an urgent adoption of the EU Nature Restoration Law, as agreed upon by the co-legislators in November 2023 and adopted by the European Parliament in February 2024.  

We thank you for your consideration of our call.