Legal assessment explaining why COPA*COGECA's objections against the Nature Restoration Act proposal are misleading

In their letter of 26 June 2023 Copa*Cogeca asked the members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment to reject the Nature Restoration Law proposal. They based their arguments for this rejection on what they considered as ‘red line’ issues, which makes the law proposal unacceptable to them.As Legal Working Group (LWG) from SERE , we analysed these ‘red line’ issues and we concluded that their red line objections against the Nature Restoration Law proposal cannot withstand legal scrutiny. Many of their concerns are already present in the Commission proposal and are further addressed in the Swedish presidency compromise proposal. Further weakening of the Nature Restoration Law is against existing EU legislation

Legal assessment explaining why COPA*COGECA's objections against the Nature Restoration Act proposal are misleading

In their letter of 26 June 2023 Copa*Cogeca asked the members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment to reject the Nature Restoration Law proposal. They based their arguments for this rejection on what they considered as ‘red line’ issues, which makes the law proposal unacceptable to them.As Legal Working Group (LWG) from SERE , we analysed these ‘red line’ issues and we concluded that their red line objections against the Nature Restoration Law proposal cannot withstand legal scrutiny. Many of their concerns are already present in the Commission proposal and are further addressed in the Swedish presidency compromise proposal. Further weakening of the Nature Restoration Law is against existing EU legislation

Legal assessment of the Proposal for an EU Nature Restoration Law:Report by the Legal Working Group of the Society for Ecological Restoration Europe

This assessment is based on the Commission proposal for a Nature Restoration Law (hereafter referred to as NRL) from 22 June 2022.2 The Legal Working Group is aware that the proposal is currently being discussed by the Council and Parliament. It is therefore not an article-by-article assessment, but a more general assessment of several legal aspects of the law we consider to be particularly important. Our choice of the discussed aspects was based on ongoing political discussions on the law (e.g. in the EU parliament and Council). The note gives legal arguments why certain articles should remain in the law or should be amended or added to the law. Legal arguments include legal certainty for stakeholders, coherence with other EU legislation, legitimate expectations, accepted legal principles, etc. Where relevant, we include concrete suggestions for amending and improving the law proposal.<br/

A new valuation school: Integrating diverse values of nature in resource and land use decisions

We are increasingly confronted with severe social and economic impacts of environmental degradation all over the world. From a valuation perspective, environmental problems and conflicts originate from trade-offs between values. The urgency and importance to integrate nature\u27s diverse values in decisions and actions stand out more than ever. Valuation, in its broad sense of ‘assigning importance’, is inherently part of most decisions on natural resource and land use. Scholars from different traditions -while moving from heuristic interdisciplinary debate to applied transdisciplinary science- now acknowledge the need for combining multiple disciplines and methods to represent the diverse set of values of nature. This growing group of scientists and practitioners share the ambition to explore how combinations of ecological, socio-cultural and economic valuation tools can support real-life resource and land use decision-making. The current sustainability challenges and the ineffectiveness of single-value approaches to offer relief demonstrate that continuing along a single path is no option. We advocate for the adherence of a plural valuation culture and its establishment as a common practice, by contesting and complementing ineffective and discriminatory single-value approaches. In policy and decision contexts with a willingness to improve sustainability, integrated valuation approaches can be blended in existing processes, whereas in contexts of power asymmetries or environmental conflicts, integrated valuation can promote the inclusion of diverse values through action research and support the struggle for social and environmental justice. The special issue and this editorial synthesis paper bring together lessons from pioneer case studies and research papers, synthesizing main challenges and setting out priorities for the years to come for the field of integrated valuation

A new valuation school : Integrating diverse values of nature in resource and land use decisions

We are increasingly confronted with severe social and economic impacts of environmental degradation all over the world. From a valuation perspective, environmental problems and conflicts originate from trade-offs between values. The urgency and importance to integrate nature's diverse values in decisions and actions stand out more than ever. Valuation, in its broad sense of 'assigning importance', is inherently part of most decisions on natural resource and land use. Scholars from different traditions -while moving from heuristic interdisciplinary debate to applied transdisciplinary science- now acknowledge the need for combining multiple disciplines and methods to represent the diverse set of values of nature. This growing group of scientists and practitioners share the ambition to explore how combinations of ecological, socio-cultural and economic valuation tools can support real-life resource and land use decision-making. The current sustainability challenges and the ineffectiveness of single-value approaches to offer relief demonstrate that continuing along a single path is no option. We advocate for the adherence of a plural valuation culture and its establishment as a common practice, by contesting and complementing ineffective and discriminatory single-value approaches. In policy and decision contexts with a willingness to improve sustainability, integrated valuation approaches can be blended in existing processes, whereas in contexts of power asymmetries or environmental conflicts, integrated valuation can promote the inclusion of diverse values through action research and support the struggle for social and environmental justice. The special issue and this editorial synthesis paper bring together lessons from pioneer case studies and research papers, synthesizing main challenges and setting out priorities for the years to come for the field of integrated valuation.Peer reviewe

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P &lt; 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Responsible Legal Research and Innovation: Law Science to Drive Ecological Transition and Deliver Sustainable Development

International audienceThe idea that scientific research and innovation should be oriented towards promoting sustainable development is widely accepted. The same applies to legal science. Can legal science bring about social transformation? Is legal innovation achievable? What role does the law play in contributing for behavioral change? This book illustrates how the law can serve as a powerful tool for social and economic transformation in support of ecological transition towards sustainable development."FrançaisL'idée selon laquelle la recherche scientifique et l'innovation devraient être orientées vers la promotion du développement durable est largement acceptée. La même chose s'applique à la science juridique. La science juridique peut-elle entraîner une transformation sociale ? L'innovation juridique est-elle réalisable ? Quel rôle le droit joue-t-il dans la contribution au changement des comportements? Ce livre illustre comment le droit peut servir d'outil puissant de transformation sociale et économique en faveur de la transition écologique vers un développement durabl

Normandy Chair for Peace, a model of responsible legal research and innovation for peace with the Earth and the promotion of the rights of future generations

International audienceThe last chapter on “Normandy Chair for Peace, a model of responsible legal research and innovation for peace with the Earth and the promotion of the rights of future generations”, by Emilie GAILLARD and Alexandra ARAGÃO, introduces the excellence research levered by the Normandy Chair for Peace (NCP). The NCP carried out unconventional international, transdisciplinary and future-oriented research on some of the most complex and fracturing subjects of our times. Major advances in knowledge and understanding of legal and ethical challenges were achieved with the support of a network of world class top researchers and active leaders from all continents. The NCP is an extraordinary model of responsible legal research and innovation through networking, idea incubation and legal co-creation