In an open letter, initiated by Scientists for Future Österreich, more than 1,400 scientists, researchers and academics are calling on the European
Commission to radically increase funding for projects promoting biodiversity. In this media briefing, the initiators will present their arguments and be available for questions.
As the EU moves towards the final phase of drafting the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the question of how to fund a sustainable and secure future is more urgent than ever. The loss of biological diversity represents not only an existential threat to our ecosystems, but also to Europe's long-term competitiveness, food security, and resilience to crises. Moreover, the consequences of natural disasters such as floods become increasingly devastating as more intact ecosystems are lost. Yet despite growing awareness, biodiversity funding remains significantly underfunded in current Multiannual Financial Framework discussions.
The European Commission is expected to publish a first draft of the Multiannual Financial Framework in just a few weeks, on 16 July 2025. This document sets out how the European Union will deploy its substantial resources for the period 2028–2034. As such, this financial plan is of crucial importance for progress in halting biodiversity loss and tackling climate change. At this critical juncture, scientists from across Europe are calling for a decisive shift: without a significant increase in funding for nature restoration and biodiversity protection, the EU will not meet its Green Deal targets or its broader environmental commitments.
The open letter initiated by Scientists for Future Österreich, signed by more than 1,400 scientists, researchers, and academics, underlines that biodiversity must be treated as the green foundation of our society and economy. Even in a context increasingly shaped by concerns over economic competitiveness and geopolitical stability, investment in nature is an indispensable basis for long-term resilience, as the costs of inaction are many times higher than the costs of halting biodiversity loss. The media briefing, organised with the support of DISKURS. Das Wissenschaftsnetz and aimed at a European audience, will set out from a scientific perspective why biodiversity funding must be a central issue in the upcoming EU budget.
Inputs: Carla Freund, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Univ-Prof. Franz Essl, University of Vienna, Austrian Biodiversity Council, Scientists for Future
Moderator: Martin Auer, Scientists for Future Austria
