EU on track to miss marine protection targets

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) warned that the EU is failing to implement concrete measures to halt biodiversity loss and is unlikely to meet its 2030 marine protection targets. A report highlighted that many marine protected areas are only nominally protected, lacking effective conservation measures and climate change plans. Local communities are often excluded from decision-making, undermining conservation efforts. The ECA noted that the EU aims for 30% of marine areas to be protected by 2030, but currently only 14% are, with only 1% under full protection. Financial constraints and fragmented funding further hinder effective marine protection efforts.