On Earth Day they will appeal to Tusk. Acts “contrary to the declared policy”

– We appeal to Prime Minister Donald Tusk to talk about the Nature Restoration Law and the conditions for supporting this document – says Dr. Hab. Wiktor Kotowski, professor at the University of Warsaw and member of the board of the Wetland Protection Center. According to the scientist, “deletion of these regulations, developed thanks to the work of many experts and based on years of scientific research, means total surrender in the fight to stop the climate and ecological crisis. – It is also contrary to the declared pro-nature policy of the government,” he says.

This is the EU regulation on the restoration of natural resources. The law is and constitutes one of the pillars of the European Green Deal. It would allow for the restoration of degraded areas, irrigation of drained wetlands and better care for greenery in cities.

After it was voted by the European Parliament, it seemed that its final adoption by EU countries was just a formality. However, among others Hungary’s withdrawal of support meant that the member states’ vote was postponed. Poland’s vote was also important and it declared that it would abstain from voting. If our country was in favor of this, there would be a majority for the regulation. However, Donald Tusk says it clearly.

There will be an appeal to Tusk

This decision of the government caused deep shock. Another protest in front of the Prime Minister’s Office is announced for April 22 – Earth Day. It is organized by a group of non-governmental organizations, including: Climate Alert, Wetland Protection Center and Fota4Climate.

“Human existence is 100 percent dependent on nature. Thanks to stable ecosystems, we have access to food for people and animals and raw materials, as well as the opportunity to live in physical and mental health,” the organizers emphasize. Our economy and security depend on natural resources. Meanwhile, the vast majority of Europe’s nature is changed and damaged by human activities. They also emphasize that “demagogic arguments about the threat to agriculture have no basis in the draft” of the law, and no actions based on it will be taken against land owners, e.g. farmers.

The organizers want the Polish government “not to waste this opportunity” offered by EU law and will appeal to Tusk to support its adoption. The picket in front of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Law for nature in suspension

After the postponement of the vote by EU countries, the future of the nature restoration regulation is uncertain. Its approval requires a vote in the EU Council, where all countries are represented. Unanimity is not required, but a majority of 15 out of 27 countries representing 65 percent is needed. population of the Union. Before the postponed vote, there were yes countries, so Poland’s vote would be enough to find a majority.

It is still possible to change the regulation (then the European Parliament would have to vote again). In response to our questions, the Ministry of Climate stated that “Poland hopes that work on the project will be undertaken in order to reach a more satisfactory compromise of 27 countries” around this law. However, now the ministry has nothing to say about work towards reaching such a “compromise”.

– I am not aware of any continuing work on this regulation to any extent – said Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Minister of Climate and Environment, at a press conference this week. She added that after the planned meeting of the EU environment council, in which the minister will participate, she may have information about the plans of the current (Belgian) presidency of the Council or Hungary, which will take over the presidency in the next six months. – But I don’t expect any progress. We know that neither the Belgian nor the Hungarian Presidency is in favor of this solution, she said.

– I can guarantee that we will work on water resources, including the restoration of Polish rivers, so that we will never again have to face such a disaster as what occurred on the Oder two years ago, said Hennig-Kloska. She added that the restoration of water resources is also needed to ensure that water is used for agriculture.