21/12/2017 (Agence Europe) – The member states’ ambassadors to the EU (Coreper) gave their approval on Wednesday 20 December to the recent inter-institutional agreement on the so-called Lulucf regulation on the contribution to be made by forestry and agriculture to achieving the EU’s climate targets for 2020-2030 (see EUROPE 11926). Under the terms of this agreement, which is of crucial importance to making the Paris climate agreement a reality, member states have to ensure a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and absorption of CO2 by forests, cultivated land and grasslands over the course of two periods – 2021-2025 and 2026-2030. Wetlands are included in the accounting rules established by the draft regulation. If absorption exceeds emissions in the first period, the surplus may be put in a reserve and used in the second period. The agreement still has to be formally approved by the European legislator. (AN)