BRUSSELS, April 11 – The Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in collaboration with the Federal Public Service for Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, hosted a high-level event on the pivotal role of nature and biodiversity in fostering a sustainable future. The event, titled “Regenerative Development for Transformative Change,” revolved around the central message of “Giving back to nature more than we take away”.
The event was grounded in the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy 2030 principle of restoring nature, and it ventured further to examine the practical applications of Regenerative Development for transformative change. The Belgian Presidency aims to underscore the potential of this novel concept so that it can be factored into the formulation and implementation of environmental policies and initiatives at European, national, and local levels.
Regenerative Development, a concept that transcends the basic question of sustainability, urges us to rethink our relationship with nature. It emphasizes the need to shift our thinking and adopt a living systems approach. This new perspective encourages us to actively participate in maintaining and enhancing the health of the planet for both people and nature. It acknowledges that solutions cannot be universally imposed but must emerge from a profound understanding of local ecosystems and cultures.
The conference brought together speakers and participants from various EU Member States and institutions, including representatives of governments, academia, civil society, and the private sector. The discussions explored how integrating a regenerative development approach in strategies and initiatives could provide a fresh perspective for achieving biodiversity and environmental objectives.
Ms. Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Co-President of the Club of Rome and Executive Chair of Earth4All, initiated the debate by stating that today’s complex challenges necessitate the adoption of a new financial and economic architecture that embraces regenerative development and the well-being of people and the planet simultaneously.
“The Belgian Presidency wants to contribute to a recovering and thriving nature,” said Pierre Kerkhofs of the Federal Public Service for Public Health, Food Chain Safety, and Environment. “Healthy, diverse ecosystems are responsible for the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the natural places that we visit to nurture our bodies and minds. Restoring and re-imagining our relationship to nature are central and urgent challenges for the next decades.”