That was the question during a round table discussion at the conference ‘Living in peace with nature to drive economic prosperity; the EU dimension’, organized by the Consumers and Environment Category of the European Economic and Social Council. The conference, that took place in Brussels on June 2^nd, 2026, was a side event of the European Green Week. Egbert Roozen, Secretary-General of ELCA, was asked as one of the speakers to reflect on this question.

Policymakers, experts and stakeholders explored during the conference what the role of nature can be in shaping a sustainable and resilient future. Representatives of the European Commission, European Environment Agency and Consumer organizations underlined in a first panel discussion, looking at for example the challenges in climate change, biodiversity loss and health, why the EU needs a nature-positive economy.

Actions
How we can achieve this in practical actions, was food for discussion in the round table. Together with the other speakers of Youth and Environment Europe and the European Consumer Organization, Egbert zoomed in at what the EU can do. Since the nature-positive economy has specific local benefits, he emphasized on the role of municipalities in shaping the local nature-positive economy. The EU should find out how to facilitate them more, for example with funding within the Multiannual Financial Framework. Egbert pointed out that the EU should make the contribution to nature-positiveness also a basic element in their initiatives. Why not more attention to nature-inclusive construction and renovation of houses according to the EU Affordable Housing Plan? Or why not creating specific green lots in Public Procurement so that there will be more focus on achieving the aimed ecosystem services? Egbert encouraged the European Commission to continue facilitation of scientific research, innovation and promotion of the nature-positive business case and to take extra effort in those EU-member states where the nature-positive economy is not that strong on the agenda yet.

To conclude his contribution, Egbert noted that we should not only ask the EU to do things but it is also up to us to show leadership and take up actions. He explained the development agenda of the landscape garden sector in which innovation of the green business case in the perspective of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and vocational training are important topics. Egbert: “We are convinced of a nature-positive and nature-inclusive future. We want to be partner and we want to take up our role. Let’s do it!”       

Want to see the recordings of the conference? Click here: https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/agenda/our-events/events/living-peace-nature-drive-economic-prosperity-eu-dimension/webstream