Source: European Parliament
In the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030,[1] the Commission calls upon all cities with over 20,000 inhabitants to develop ambitious urban nature plans, to benefit from the multiple services green space and tree cover provide. By greening their urban development, cities like Seville can support nature and biodiversity, build resilience to climate change, cool urban areas and reduce flood risk, and boost the health and well-being of their citizens — priorities also reinforced under the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change[2] and the Union’s wider work on climate and health[3].
The Nature Restoration Regulation[4] sets specific targets for maintaining and increasing the coverage of urban green space and tree cover in urban areas across the EU. These targets between 2024 and 2030 are set at national level, and they are implemented at Member State level. They do not set targets for any specific local projects. Article 13 of the same Regulation states that Member States should contribute to the planting of at least three billion additional trees by 2030. Again, it does not set specific targets at local level. The Commission would encourage all cities to play their part in supporting these urban greening objectives.
- [1] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en.
- [2] https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/adaptation-climate-change/eu-adaptation-strategy_en.
- [3] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/health/environment-climate-and-health_en.
- [4] Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869, OJ L, 2024/1991, 29.7.2024.