In the absence of a consensus at the G20 Environment and Climate Ministers’ meeting in Bali, in preparation for the COP15 on biodiversity (Montreal, December), the European Commissioner for the Environment, Virginijus Sinkevičius, welcomes this consultation and the strengthening of bilateral cooperation with Indonesia and Malaysia in order to conclude in December “an ambitious global framework” that is still hoped for.
In Bali, as in Kuala Lumpur, where the Commissioner’s visit to South East Asia (see EUROPE 13010/9) was due to end on Friday 2 September, the fight against global deforestation, which is essential for biodiversity and the preservation of the role of forests as carbon sinks, was at the heart of talks with the authorities and NGOs.
“The key issue is the new (EU) legislation that will have to be fully implemented to curb deforestation at the global level and synchronise our positions before COP15”, said the Commissioner on Twitter on Friday.
This is the proposed EU Regulation, which aims to minimise the risk of global deforestation and forest degradation associated with commodities placed on the EU market, on which the European Parliament will vote on Tuesday 13 September (see EUROPE 12991/14). The topic was to be discussed by the European Commissioner with environmental NGOs and companies and during a visit to a village of the indigenous population (Orang Asli) and a sustainable palm oil plantation.
With Malaysian Minister of Economic Affairs Mustapa Mohamed on 1st September, Mr Sinkevičius agreed to cooperate “to build a solid green partnership that will help us push forward a circular economy and synergies ahead of COP15”.
According to the Commissioner, talks with the Indonesian Minister for Plantation Industries, Zuraida Kamaruddin, were also fruitful, particularly on “deforestation-free supply chains”.
“In support of Indonesia’s operational plan ‘Forestry & Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030’, we want to intensify cooperation to halt forest and biodiversity loss and achieve our climate ambition”, he added. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)