On Tuesday 20 April, the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union transmitted to the Member States a second set of draft conclusions on the EU strategy on adaptation to the impacts of climate change.
There are a number of changes from the first draft conclusions (see EUROPE 12689/13).
The new version places greater emphasis on the need to provide “continued support to countries particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change” with a focus on adaptation in the least developed countries, small island developing States and Africa.
The Presidency also suggests inviting the European Commission to “compile examples of best practices and solutions” for public and private financing of adaptation measures, as well as to provide local authorities with additional guidance, knowledge and information on the best available adaptation measures and solutions.
The Portuguese document also stresses the importance of further developing the EU’s Earth observation programme, Copernicus, to assess the impact of climate change.
Reaffirming the commitment of the EU and its Member States to step up the mobilisation of international climate finance, the text calls on all developed countries and other parties in a position to do so (international financial institutions, development banks, etc.) to increase their own contributions.
In addition, Lisbon proposes to recognise the need to develop methods and metrics to measure the impact of adaptation.
Finally, it should be noted that on Friday 23 April, the Environment Ministers of the Member States and the Commissioner for the Environment, Virginijus Sinkevičius, held a virtual discussion on adaptation to climate change, focusing in particular on water management and the international aspect of adaptation.
At the end of the informal video conference, Mr Sinkevičius recalled that the issue of water is one of the Commission’s priorities. He said he had also stressed the importance of using the funds released under the post-Covid-19 recovery plans “enhance water restauration and water efficiency measures”.
“It is a unique opportunity to transform the water landscape in the EU”, he said.
See the draft conclusions: https://bit.ly/3nlTUu7 (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)