Defend Europe’s nature laws
The #HandsOffNature NGO coalition has launched a major petition to defend EU nature laws, including the Water Framework Directive (WFD), against ongoing deregulation efforts. Despite 25 years of protection, only 39.5% of Europe’s surface waters are currently in good ecological status.
Across the European Union, laws that safeguard clean water, healthy rivers, clean air, and diverse ecosystems are being quietly dismantled under the guise of “simplification” and “cutting red tape.” Laws built over decades are being chipped away one at a time, and once lost, they rarely come back.
Attacks on our water, forests, and wildlife are happening right now. Powerful polluting sectors, from mining and chemicals to industrial agriculture, are pushing to weaken the rules that keep our water safe, our rivers clean, and our ecosystems healthy. Forever chemicals, deforestation, and the loss of iconic species could soon become irreversible if these rollbacks continue.
For more than 25 years, Europe’s water protection laws have driven the cleanup of rivers and lakes, safeguarding public health and biodiversity. These laws work, and we cannot afford to lose them.
Join the #HandsOffNature campaign. Sign the petition, add it to your organisation’s website, and help give nature a voice. The more of us act, the stronger our pressure on decision-makers.
Read more here about how to get involved: #HandsOffNature petition – concept note