EU Environment Ministers want the EU to contribute to an ambitious international agreement at the final segment of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Montreal, but are aware that there is still some way to go.
The preparation of this COP mobilised the first session of their informal meeting in Prague on what is one of the priorities of the Czech Presidency (see EUROPE 12990/8, 12990/9).
Everyone was delighted that a date and a place have finally been set (Montreal, 5-17 December) for this long-awaited COP, stressed the Czech Minister for the Environment, Anna Hubáčková, who chaired the discussions.
“We discussed how best to present an EU position to set an example and inspire other partners”, she told a press conference, adding that there is “still a lot of work ahead of us”.
Stressing that time is running out, she nevertheless expressed confidence that the EU’s negotiating position can be agreed at the October Environment Council.
According to her, the ministers did not go into detail about what is blocking the preparatory negotiations, which stalled in Nairobi in June because of the issue of funding: “We need to analyse the text” of Nairobi.
In the margins of the session, Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius acknowledged that funding will be the key issue. “We need to intensify the discussions, first among ourselves to ensure a clear position and talk about financing”, he said. He said this would be “a priority for the EU”, but warned that the $100 billion requested by some third countries was “unrealistic” (see EUROPE 12986/7).
He said that with its proposal for a regulation setting binding nature restoration targets (see EUROPE 12977/17) and its Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the EU is well equipped to take the lead in Montreal.
“We need to speak with one voice, especially on biodiversity issues and the finances that will allow us to do what is necessary for our biodiversity at national and international levels”, said the new French Secretary of State for Ecology, Bérangère Couillard.
The ministers then discussed the importance of nature protection as an instrument for adapting to climate change, linking nature, soil and water protection.
“Adaptation is extremely topical, it’s not just about protecting the climate”, stressed the President-in-Office of the Environment Council. She welcomed an exchange of best practice between the ministers.
The Polish Secretary of State stressed that Poland was one of the first countries to implement its adaptation strategy. “40 cities prepared their strategy before it became an obligation at European level. We have a programme to try to limit the artificialisation of land in cities”, he said. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)