The contribution of buildings towards commitments within the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and derived policies in the Netherlands – opportunities and implementation gaps

Abstract

As the world’s biodiversity continues to decline, the need for a system’s change is bigger than ever. Strong and effective policies and governmental frameworks are required to facilitate this process and ensure nature conservation. Unfortunately, past experiences show that policymaking can be prone to implementation gaps. A common missing link in meeting targets and commitments is the inclusion of important sectors, such as the built environment. With the rise of different biodiversity enhancing strategies for buildings, the contribution of the built environment towards nature conservation holds great potential. In this review, we assess commitments within the European Union Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and derived policies in the Netherlands for their acknowledgement of this potential, and identify missing links and implementation gaps. According to our analysis, the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 promotes these strategies sufficiently, but some missing links exist in Dutch polies and legislation. On the upside, we also discovered many action plans, initiatives and strategies in play that allow a promising future for biodiversity.