Green Party candidates for Leitrim County Council celebrate final approval for Nature Restoration Law

The European Parliament has approved the Nature Restoration Law with a decisive majority of 329 votes in favour against 275.

The NRL signifies a monumental shift towards restoring Europe's degraded ecosystems by 2050. A key provision of the NRL is the allocation of increased funding to landowners to manage their land in an environmentally friendly manner.

This financial support aims to facilitate sustainable agricultural practices, making them more accessible and incentivised for farmers across Ireland.

Green MEPs Grace O'Sullivan and Ciarán Cuffe have lauded the final approval of NRL, emphasising its role in restoring nature, fortifying resilience against extreme weather events, and ensuring sustainable food production in Europe.

Adam Ó Ceallaigh, the Green Party Candidate for the Ballinamore LEA, expressed his gratitude for the passage of NRL, recognising its potential to reverse centuries of environmental degradation.

"Nature is the bedrock of our economy and society, and its restoration is imperative. This landmark decision lays the foundation for a more sustainable future, benefiting climate, biodiversity, farming, food security, health, tourism, and more," Adam remarked.

The NRL mandates every EU country to implement restoration measures covering at least 20% of land and sea areas by 2030. The law commits to enhancing urban green spaces, aligning with the Irish Green Party's historic allocation of €3 billion for nature restoration in this year's budget.

Bláithín Gallagher, Chair of the North West Greens and Green Party candidate and representative for Manorhamilton LEA welcomes this legislative milestone, saying: "This law will help address the environmental and biodiversity crisis. For too long, we have prioritised short-term economic growth over the long-term sustainability of our land and our people. This has come with an exorbitant price tag for society and the environment, which we are witnessing today as we see the impact of the climate crisis."

This monumental achievement reflects the Irish government's commitment to biodiversity action, echoing the sentiment of the Citizens' Assembly, which urged proactive adoption and implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Law.

Green Party Candidate for Carrick-on-Shannon, Leslie O'Hora, welcomed the vote and said, "When the young people of today are parents and grandparents, they will look back on this moment as a time when our direction of travel turned away from the destructive path.'

The Green Party candidates in Leitrim encourage continued advocacy and local engagement to bolster the impact of this transformative legislation, emphasising the collective responsibility to safeguard and restore our natural heritage for future generations.