The European Commission proposed, on Wednesday 14 October, an 8th Environmental Action Programme (8th EAP) for this decade, with the 7th EAP (2014-2020) expiring at the end of this year.
“Fully coherent with #EUGreenDeal, it creates a framework for Europe’s long-term environmental and climate objectives with the ultimate goal of living well within the planetary boundaries”, said EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius. This was the commitment already made under the 7th EAP for the period up to 2050.
The Commission suggests setting up a new monitoring framework to help the EU and its Member States determine whether they are on the right track. This 8th EAP will provide a basis for the achievement of the UN Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Concise, it will focus on six priorities, their monitoring and implementation: (1) achieving the 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target and climate neutrality by 2050; (2) enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change; (3) pursuing a zero-pollution ambition for air, water and soil; (4) protecting the health and well-being of Europeans ; (5) protecting, preserving and restoring biodiversity and enhancing natural capital (notably air, water, soil, and forest, freshwater, wetland and marine ecosystems); and (6) reducing environmental and climate-related pressures from production and consumption, notably in the areas of energy, industrial development, buildings and infrastructure, mobility and the food system.
The EU Environment Council was keen to have an 8th EAP, judging that the European Green Deal could not replace it (see EUROPE 12342/4). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)