The European Union nations have overcome opposition to endorse a landmark law for nature restoration, obligating member states to rejuvenate at least 20% of the bloc's land and sea by 2030.

On Monday, twenty out of the 27 European Council members supported the legislation, achieving the required two-thirds majority despite significant resistance from some nations.

Belgium did not participate in the vote. In a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, environment ministers from Finland, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden opposed the law.

This significant environmental policy was surprisingly passed after Austria’s environment minister, Leonore Gewessler of the Greens party, voted in favor—despite earlier indications of opposition from Vienna.

The shift in stance angered Gewessler’s conservative coalition allies, including Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s Austrian People's Party.

Gewessler, after the legislation was approved, stated that her support was driven by the need for “courageous decisions” for future generations.

“Today, we send a clear message: Our nature deserves our protection!” she posted on X.

However, Nehammer mentioned that his administration plans to challenge the “unlawful” vote in the European court.

Belgium, holding the EU’s rotating presidency, asserted that the disagreement would not impact the vote's legality.

“Addressing the urgent decline of biodiversity in Europe is our duty and will enable the EU to meet its global commitments. The European delegation will attend the next COP with pride,” stated Alain Maron, climate minister from the Brussels-Capital Region.

The newly passed regulation sets legally binding targets and responsibilities for restoring nature across various ecosystems, from land to sea.

“The regulation seeks to counteract climate change and natural disasters. It will assist the EU in meeting its international environmental obligations and reviving European nature,” the European Council announced.

The law mandates member states to take action to restore habitats identified as being in poor condition, with the goal of restoring at least 90% of these habitats by 2050.

Reports indicate that over 80% of European habitats are deemed to be in poor condition.

The legislation also aims to halt the significant decline of areas and protect dwindling insect pollinators in Europe, alongside ecosystem-specific initiatives, such as pledging to plant an additional three billion trees across the EU by 2030.

Member states are required to submit national restoration plans to the commission, with a review of the law's implementation and its impacts scheduled for 2033.

Supporting non-governmental organizations, including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) based in Switzerland, celebrated the law's adoption as “a significant triumph for Europe's nature and its citizens.”