The preservation of global biodiversity, the fight against plastic pollution and good governance of the oceans are the three priorities of the EU, stressed the Commissioner for the Environment and the Oceans, Virginijus Sinkevičius, speaking to the press on Thursday 3 February from New York, welcoming an ambition shared with the UN and the United States.
His official visit to Washington and then to the United Nations was aimed at strengthening EU/UN/US cooperation in the field of environment and climate to promote green recovery after the Covid-19 crisis (see EUROPE 12880/12).
“Many decisions have been postponed. We need to move forward, fast. This year will, I hope, be the year of the oceans. And 2022 must be a year for biodiversity”, he said.
For the COP15 on biodiversity, he reiterated that there was a need for momentum as was the case in Paris for the COP21 on climate, “with a strong political commitment”. According to him, citizens have not yet been made sufficiently aware of the issue.
He said that the fight against plastic pollution is insufficient and stressed that “only a global agreement” will make a difference.
“140 countries are calling for the establishment of an intergovernmental negotiating committee for a legally binding agreement and 70 countries are already in favour of a legally binding instrument”, the first steps of which would be taken at the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5) (Nairobi, 28 February-2 March).
The Commissioner said he was “pleased that our American partners are as motivated as we are”.
According to the draft EU position in preparation, the priority of the EU and its Member States is that the future international instrument or agreement should address plastic pollution throughout the life cycle of plastics.
He believes the ‘One Ocean’ summit (Brest, 9-11 February), organised by the French Presidency with the support of the UN, is “vital to create a coalition of ambition” for ocean sustainability. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)