Climate action, a biodiversity strategy and sustainable digitisation are on the environmental agenda for Germany’s six months at the head of the EU Council, guided by the European Green Deal and the post-Covid-19 green recovery, which requires a ‘sustainable Europe’ - one of the priorities for the German Presidency.
The German Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Svenja Schulze, presented this work programme to the press on Friday 3 July, after having done so before her colleagues on 23 June (see EUROPE 12512/3).
“I want to play my part by combining recovery, climate action and biodiversity. The Green Deal is the right framework. I welcome the fact that it is at the heart of the recovery plan”, she said.
On 13 and 14 July, Commissioner Schulze will hold a ministerial videoconference to address key climate and environmental issues. Formal meetings of the ‘Environment’ Council are scheduled for 23 October and 17 December.
Climate Action. The German Presidency will work to conclude discussions on the draft Climate Act, which will enshrine the objective of climate neutrality by 2050 in law. The aim is to reach a general approach with the EU Council “as soon as possible, preferably in October”.
Welcoming the Commission’s announcement of a proposal to increase the EU’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target for 2030 to 50-55% (compared to 1990), Commissioner Schulze hopes to reach “a consensus, in October if possible” in the EU Council on strengthening the EU’s nationally determined contribution (NDC), without waiting for COP26 on climate, which has been postponed to November 2021. This would send a strong signal to international partners about the EU’s commitment to the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The decision will be taken on the basis of the impact assessment expected in September. “I want the ministers to act quickly”. This is why an informal EU Council is scheduled for 30 September-1 October “to discuss the results of this impact assessment”, she said.
Biodiversity. The Minister stressed the importance of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 in tackling the biodiversity crisis, which is closely linked to climate change and epidemics (see EUROPE 12500/12, 12491/2). The German Presidency will work towards reaching Council conclusions, “most likely in October”. This strategy will help the EU play a leading role at the COP15 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the German Minister stressed.
Digitisation and the environment. The German Presidency wants the sustainable digital transition to be recognised as an environmental issue. “We should not leave this issue to economists”, Schulze said. She considers it important to identify the challenges and opportunities that the digital transition offers for both climate action and sustainability. This will be one of the themes of the videoconference on 13 and 14 July.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that digitalisation can make life easier”, she said. In addition, replacing travel with videoconferencing is good for the climate, but data centres have a “huge environmental footprint”.
She hopes that the ministers will take up the subject, “emphasise the value of environmental data, and reflect on innovative solutions” and that their reflection could lead, “by the end of the year, to giving a mandate to the Commission” in the form of Council conclusions.
Also on the Presidency’s agenda are conclusions on the new Circular Economy Action Plan and its implementation, the launch of negotiations on the 8th EU Environment Action Programme (EAP), and the chemicals strategy for sustainability, which the Commission is due to present in the third quarter. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)