Brussels, 10/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - Biodiversity that is still under threat in Europe and international efforts to tackle climate change are the two issues that the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU has listed for discussion at the informal meeting in Riga on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 April to which EU environment ministers have been invited by Kaspars Gerhardts, Latvian environment and regional development minister.
The meeting, to be attended by European Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella and Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete, will conclude with a joint meeting of environment and energy ministers.
Biodiversity. Ministers will hold an exchange of views on the insufficient progress made in implementing the EU strategy on biodiversity which seeks to stem the decline in biodiversity and in ecosystem services, and to restore these ecosystems to as great an extent as possible by 2020. It is clear that, unless things change, this objective will not be met.
The report on the state of the environment and the outlook for 2015, published by the European Environment Agency on 3 March, bears witness to this since it shows that, in the EU, only 23% of animal and plant species and 16% of habitat are in a healthy condition (see EUROPE 11266). The informal discussion will provide the opportunity for ministers to consider arrangements for the mid-term review of this strategy that is due to take place this year. In this context, ministers will also discuss the challenges and opportunities of integrating biodiversity concerns into other relevant EU sectoral policies.
Biodiversity will be discussed over lunch on Tuesday, with presentation by the European Investment Bank (EIB) of the new natural capital financing facility and other innovative financing instruments.
Climate change. Ministers will take stock of progress in preparations for the UN conference in Paris (COP 21) in December at which it is hoped to conclude a legally binding global climate agreement to which all countries are party, coming into effect in 2020 to take over from the Kyoto Protocol.
On Wednesday 15 April, the joint meeting of environment and energy ministers will be devoted to how best to reconcile preservation of biodiversity and increased use of renewable energy in meeting the targets for 2020 (renewable energy providing 20% of total consumption) and 2030 (at least 27% as a binding European target). Latvian Economic Affairs Minister Dana Reizniece-Ozola will co-chair this discussion before chairing the informal meeting of energy ministers which will follow. (Aminata Niang)