Climate change and biodiversity collapse are interrelated global challenges requiring the EU's greatest attention for the future of the planet, given the valuable ecosystem services provided by biodiversity, EU Environment Ministers stressed at their informal meeting in Bucharest on 20 May.
After discussing innovative solutions for the EU's carbon neutrality (see EUROPE 12258/5), Ministers devoted their second working session to the IPBES report on the unprecedented collapse of global biodiversity and the post-2020 framework to be adopted at the UN at the 15th Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15, China, 2020).
"Thank you to Commissioner Vella [responsible for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, editor's note] for drawing our attention to this very important report. We must all respect biodiversity. Many species are disappearing both at European and national level. We must protect species and habitats for future generations", said Romanian Environment Minister Grațiela Gavrilescu on Tuesday 21 May, at the end of the two-day meeting she chaired.
"The link between climate change and biodiversity loss is clearly on everyone's agenda", said Commissioner Vella, who was very encouraged to see "the frequency with which Ministers linked climate concerns and environmental concerns". And to warn: "if we do not succeed in changing the fate of biodiversity and ecosystems, achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the objectives of sustainable development will only be an illusion".
This requires rapid improvement in the implementation of existing instruments, such as the measures set out in the EU Biodiversity Strategy, the Nature Action Plan and the Pollinators Initiative, he stressed.
More importantly, according to him, the Ministers, the Romanian Presidency and himself had all recognised the need for the EU to develop a circular economy and a truly sustainable agriculture and food policy.
Karmenu Vella told Ministers that the Commission will "shortly be adopting new guidance on integrating ecosystem services into decision-making and on green infrastructure" (see EUROPE B12249Α11). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)