Only six EU nations have submitted draft restoration plans by the September 1 deadline, amid rising costs from wildfires and heatwaves.
Key facts
- •The deadline for submitting national restoration plans under the EU Nature Restoration Law was September 1.
- •Only six EU countries have submitted their draft plans to the European Commission as of the deadline.
- •Wildfires have destroyed 643,085 hectares of land in Europe since the start of the year.
- •Heatwaves have resulted in over 35,000 excess deaths across Europe.
- •The #RestoreNature coalition has called on governments to deliver plans that are both strong and properly resourced.
Tuesday, September 1, marked the deadline for European Union member states to submit their draft national restoration plans as required by the EU Nature Restoration Law. According to an internal European Commission database, only six countries have met this requirement so far. The law is a central component of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, designed to restore degraded ecosystems and build resilience against threats such as forest fires and disease.
By the numbers
Economic and environmental impact
The push for restoration comes as Europe faces significant economic and human costs from climate-related events. Since the beginning of the year, 643,085 hectares of land have burned in wildfires, with France and Spain experiencing their largest losses to date. Additionally, persistent heatwaves have strained national healthcare systems, contributing to more than 35,000 excess deaths across the continent.
Calls for government action
Environmental groups, including the #RestoreNature coalition, have criticized the slow progress, stating that Europe needs substantive action rather than mere administrative compliance. The coalition is urging governments to provide strong, properly resourced plans to improve regional resilience. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen noted that environmental risks are becoming increasingly frequent, complex, and severe.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by EUobserver.
