Brussels proposes to cut pesticides by 50% by 2030

Brussels has proposed strengthening rules to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030 to contribute to building sustainable food systems in line with those proposed by the European Green Deal. ensure food securityConsidering that the rules of the current Sustainable Pesticide Use directive are “weak”.

This offer shows Farmers should use alternative methods of pest prevention and control, with chemical pesticides being a last resort.

To do this, EU countries must establish specific rules for each crop where alternatives to chemical pesticides are defined. “This measure can be achieved through practices such as planting rotation and precision farming,” Timmermans said in statements collected by Europa Press. Said.

“Replace them with sustainable alternatives”

In this sense, the Health and Food Safety Commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, had an impact: “We don’t ban pesticides, we just suggest replacing them with sustainable alternatives” explained that they do not propose a single measure for all Member States or for all areas, and pointed out that they will help farmers economically in the next five years.

Therefore, this regulation includes a policy package to support farmers in the transition to a more sustainable food production system and includes measures under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to compensate farmers for the costs associated with the implementation of this regulation over the next five years. years as well as measures to increase biological alternatives.

Also, this new arrangement It will ban the use of pesticides in sensitive areas such as parks, recreational areas, public roads or green urban areas such as protected areas, in line with those recommended by Natura 2000.to protect threatened pollinating insects.

The Brussels proposal sets clear rules and legally binding targets for what at the national level. Member States should chart a course of national milestones. To carry out the implementation of this regulation, Member States must submit to the Community Executive a report on implementation and progress.

100,000 million for the restoration of European ecosystems

The Community Executive has also presented the first legislative proposal in the European Union setting targets for the restoration of natural ecosystems and recommends that such measures be established for the following purposes: Restore 20% of Europe’s natural habitats by at least 2030 and extend this to all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.

“What we present today is not just about the beauty of nature,” Virginijus Sinkievicius, Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, said at a press conference. carbon sinks to deal with the climate crisis.

The measure will have an allocation of 100,000 million euros to be spent on biodiversity and restoration to meet a set of targets. It was proposed to reverse the decline in pollinator populations by 2030 and ensure that there is no increase from that date or no net loss of urban green spaces, thus ensuring an increase of 5% by 2050.

At least 10% vegetation in cities

Latter, Creates at least 10% vegetation in every European city or town, Increasing biodiversity in agro-ecosystems and restoring marine habitats such as kelp forests or sedimentary zones, as well as progress in green spaces integrated into buildings and infrastructures; or restoration of iconic species such as dolphins or sharks.

Regulating forests will be expanded to include farmland, marine and freshwater or urban ecosystems, and will seek to improve the biodiversity of natural areas to create ecosystems more resilient to climate change, improve food security and human health.

Sinkievicus stressed He cited as an example that 80% of European habitats are in poor condition and wetlands in Western Europe have decreased by 50% since 1970.He states that 71% of fish and 60% of amphibian populations have declined in the last decade, with annual losses in biodiversity between €3.5 and €18.5 billion between 1997 and 2011.

The new legislation, based on the Natura 2000 Network’s Habitats and Protected Areas Directive, will establish restoration targets to improve the storage of 80% of different terrestrial and marine habitats, although covering a wider range of ecosystems. prevent and mitigate the impact of natural disasters such as carbon and floods.

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