Here’s what’s cooking at the EU level on water and nature:
Water Resilience Strategy
What is it?
With Europe facing intensifying floods, droughts, and forest fires, the Water Resilience Strategy will act as our political compass, and set a much-needed direction for how the EU addresses water-related climate risks.
What’s new?
After rounds of debates, and a disappointing position approved in the European Parliament, the WRS was initially expected on the 4th of June. But the first thing to leak from the strategy, was the strategy itself! Our partners have analysed the leaked Water Resilience Strategy Draft and sent a letter to Water Directors, to ensure freshwater ecosystems restoration is not left behind.
Make your voices known in Public Participation
Two big EU laws are currently being implemented at the national level, this means that your Member State will be subjecting plans to public consultation, these are: (1) Nature Restoration Plans and (2) Renewable Acceleration Areas
The Nature Restoration Law
What is it?
The NRL introduces binding targets to restore nature—including barrier removals and the iconic 25,000 km free-flowing rivers target. These actions must be reflected in each country’s Nature Restoration Plan (NRP)to unlock funding, expertise, and political support.
What can you do?
Now is the time to make sure relevant barrier removals are included in NRPs—especially those that restore protected habitats or contribute to free-flowing stretches. Contact larger NGOs in your country to see if they have been invited to participate in stakeholder consultations or contact your administrations to see if these stakeholder consultations are open to the public (and join!). Once you’re in, make sure the most detrimental barriers to your landscape are included in the NRP for demolition.
The Renewable Energy Directive
What is it?
The Renewable Energy Directive is the EU’s main legislative framework for promoting renewable energy across sectors like electricity, heating, cooling, and transport. It sets binding targets for Member States to increase the share of renewables and streamline permitting processes for clean energy projects.
What can you do?
According to the text of the Directive, hydropower plants can be excluded due to their proven damage to river connectivity and ecology. We encourage you to advocate for this exclusion at the national level! We also encourage you to ask for coordination these RAAs with the NRPs above to hydropower stations being built in prime sites for river restoration.
Policy update prepared by Irene Duque, Freshwater Policy Officer at Wetlands International Europe