The European Council has officially approved a new law to restore damaged ecosystems, which environmental groups are celebrating as a big win for nature.

This Nature Restoration Law, part of the EU’s Green New Deal since mid-2022, aims to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and seas by 2030, and all degraded ecosystems by 2050. Member states must restore 30% of their degraded habitats by 2030, increasing to 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050. Currently, over 80% of European habitats are in poor shape.

The law faced opposition from conservative and farming groups. Earlier attempts to pass it failed, but Austria’s climate minister from the Greens supported it despite objections from her coalition partners.

Environmental groups like BirdLife Europe and WWF Europe praised the law, calling it a historic moment for protecting Europe’s nature. It also helps the EU meet global biodiversity goals set at the UN’s 2022 conference.

This law is a major part of the EU’s efforts to protect the environment, showing its commitment to sustainability and global biodiversity targets.