The EU nature laws are in danger!

Within the EU, there is currently a strong shift to “simplify” and “reduce bureaucracy” of existing laws. Most prominently, this February 2025, the EU Commission launched the so called Omnibus Packages. While the declared objectives of streamlining, simplification and reduction of burden are very much welcome, it is mainly used to deregulate and reduce past achievements within environmental (and social) legislation (see the opinion of EEB: Omnibus a trojan horse for aggressive deregulation or check the reporting by Business & Human Rights Resource Center: Omnibus “a devastating blow to EU environmental objective”). 

The challenge is that there is a strong framing on "competitiveness vs environment” or “environmental protection impedes our economic progress”. The opposite is the case. Biodiversity underpins our economy and is the basis for all our life, by providing us with clean air or water, recycles many of our pollutants, absorbs CO2 - or is just a way to relax and gain strength and well-being. Regulations and directives on supply chain, sustainable finance, extended producer responsibility, circular economy, (industrial) emissions, waste management, among others are gradually shifting us towards a greener future. They are not enough, but all those measures are essential first steps if we want to keep our planet liveable. Companies and investors do see the benefits of those legislation as well - as this statement shows.

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As young people, we will live with the consequences of today’s decisions far longer than current policymakers and business leaders. Weakening environmental and biodiversity protections now means passing higher costs, scarcer resources, and greater instability onto our generation and those to come.
We urge the EU to resist short-sighted deregulation and instead show true leadership by putting biodiversity and climate at the center of competitiveness, resilience, and justice for future generations.

Read our joint youth statement by Global Youth Biodiversity Network European Chapter, European Young Rewilders and Youth and Environment Europe regarding the proposal of the European Commission: ​