The nature-restoration law in the European Parliament yesterday survived an attempt to kill it with the narrowest possible vote, meaning the proposal to reverse the steep decline in biodiversity in Europe has avoided an outright rejection.

According to today’s Irish Times, the proposed legislation would oblige European Union countries to come up with national plans to restore ecosystems and habitats, returning protected areas to a good condition, with the aim of putting in place nature-restoration measures across at least 20 per cent of the EU’s overall land and sea areas by 2030.

The committee vote yesterday evenly split MEPs, with 44 backing the rejection amendment and 44 opposing it. As it did not achieve a majority, the rejection amendment failed.

The committee room, which was crowded with observers, broke into whoops and applause as the results were announced.

However, a series of compromise amendments also failed to pass with a majority, and a final committee vote on the law was pushed back until June 27th, with a potential full plenary vote of all MEPs taking place in July.

Before the outcome of the vote was known yesterday, the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, speaking at the opening of the new N5 dual carriageway between Castlebar and Westport, said his government is in favour of a new restoration law.  He called for realistic targets to be put in place saying it is necessary in terms of climate action and biodiversity, however, he stressed that the needs of people and in particular farmers must also be taken into account.