EU-funded research projects : towards transformative change for biodiversity

This brochure highlights the urgent need to address the interconnected crises of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution through transformative change. Anchored in frameworks like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the EU Green Deal, transformative change emphasises the economic and societal potential of biodiversity restoration, with projected benefits including trillions in business opportunities and millions of new jobs. It entails deep, systemic shifts in perspectives, structures and practices, requiring collective action across all sectors. The more than 40 EU-funded projects under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe provide scientific evidence, policy tools, and real-world solutions. Many of them focus on nature-based solutions, biodiversity mainstreaming, and stakeholder engagement, and aim to inspire policy, innovation, and inclusive societal change. Together, they reflect a bold EU vision for a just, resilient, and nature-positive future.