CoR: Nature credits as support, not replacement, for regional environmental and biodiversity EU-funding

"Nature credits have the potential to complement EU public subsidies and grants to finance biodiversity conservation with market-based and hybrid mechanisms, including carbon credits and emissions trading systems", stated the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), led by Rastislav Trnka (SK/EPP), President of Košice Self-governing Region and Rapporteur, at their plenary session on 14/10/2025, in Brussels,

‘According to EU estimates, at least €48 Bn per year are needed in the EU to protect and restore biodiversity under the 2030 Biodiversity Strategy; however, broader estimate including soil and land monitoring suggest funding needs could reach up to €65Bn annually, with a gap of approximately €37Bn. Sustainable financing for biodiversity conservation requires the diversification of financial instruments. Therefore, the CoR welcomes the introduction of pilot projects supporting nature credits with a buy-back guarantee mechanism. However, nature credits must not replace existing EU support for biodiversity protection and restoration, such as the LIFE programme, which no longer…