The European Green Capital Network made the most of the opportunity to gather and exchange good practices and key learnings.
The winning cities of the 2025 European Green Capital & European Green Leaf Awards have been revealed. Congratulations to Vilnius (Lithuania), Treviso (Italy) and Viladecans (Spain)!
EMAS Helpdesk in collaboration with the Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform invites you to join us on October 26th at 10 am for the online webinar "People: your best resource in environmental management. How to involve them?"
People: your best resource in environmental management. How to involve them?
The 2024 edition applicants have invested their time and resources in restoring connectivity in rivers, green corridors and flyways, among other habitats, anti-erosion activities, and species reintroductions. There are a particularly high number of actions tackling terrestrial and marine invasive alien species, as well as initiatives aimed at removing barriers to migratory fish, fencing initiatives to protect livestock, pest control, and approaches addressing the impacts of rural depopulation.
Florika Fink-Hooijer, Director-General of DG Environment
All applications are currently being assessed by a team of independent evaluators.
The European Commission is proud to present the class of 2024: 96 applications from 25 European countries, across the five Award categories!
Almost 450 business and finance delegates joined government and civil society representatives last week at the 2023 edition of the European Business and Nature Summit (EBNS) in Milan, Italy. One year after the adoption of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), considered the Paris Agreement for nature, the Summit marked an important step to take stock and scale up business action to foster the transition towards a nature-positive society. Did you miss it? Find out what happened with this summary of key developments!
Companies and investors are heeding the call to address biodiversity decline head-on. The need for effective biodiversity measurement is growing, and in late 2022, the Align project released recommendations to provide a comprehensive framework. This Thursday, October 19th, from 11:00 to 11:50 BST (12:00 to 12:50 CET), the Align project will launch new guidance notes, enhancing the implementation of their recommendations. These notes shed light on biodiversity measurement and valuation for both operational site-level assessments and supply chains. They draw practical insights from 'dummy cases,' showcasing measurement approaches.
Learn about the financial ramifications of plastic pollution in this upcoming webinar. Plastic pollution is a global challenge with serious implications for financial institutions. Join us on Tuesday, October 24th, 2023, from 16:00 to 17:00 CEST (15:00 to 16:00 BST) to delve into the growing international response. The webinar will discuss the financial risks associated with plastic waste and pollution, the potential for a circular economy to address climate and biodiversity risks, and how financial institutions can take action and engage with the ongoing UN global agreement under development.
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is delivering an Opinion on the new EU soil legislation, focusing on local and regional actions. Here we interview the rapporteur for this Opinion, Frida Nilsson, CoR member for Lidköping Municipality, Sweden.
In September, the European Commission Directorate General for Environment’s monthly newsletter published a special issue on Farming with Nature. It covers pollution-related topics such as sustainable food production, innovative agriculture, ecosystem services for agriculture, European soil health and more. Read the online version and subscribe to the newsletter below.
Two forthcoming Horizon Europe calls for proposals supporting Zero Pollution will open on 17 October 2023, with the deadline for submission on 21 February 2024. Projects responding to the calls should contribute to outcomes aligned with the European Green Deal and the Zero Pollution Action Plan.
A recent study revealed that in 2019, exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was responsible for one-fifth of global neonatal health disorders. The study highlights the urgent need for air pollution control strategies, emphasising the significance of initiatives such as the Zero Pollution Action Plan.
The Commission has adopted measures restricting the use of microplastics under the EU chemical legislation REACH. These measures support the Zero Pollution Action Plan 2030 target to reduce microplastics released into the environment by 30%.
On 5 July 2023, the European Commission proposed a new law to ensure the sustainable use of soils, protect and restore them, and address key threats to soils in the EU. This new law provides a legal framework to achieve healthy soils by 2050, aligning with the EU's Zero Pollution Ambition.
As EBNS 2023 approaches, we would like to highlight the side events that will complement the core Summit experience. EBNS is dedicated to helping businesses and financial institutions work towards nature-positive transformations, especially in light of the Global Biodiversity Framework and emerging tools for integrating biodiversity into business practices. Beyond being a platform for discussions and policymaking, the EBNS offers several side events to help businesses in their journey. The events surrounding the Summit span from immersive exhibitions promoting coexistence with nature, to online sessions on nature-friendly consumption, and workshops on biodiversity conservation. Together, they will help you broaden your understanding of challenges like assessing your business's impact on natural capital, or the new biodiversity standard under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, while also offering practical examples through case studies implementing nature-positive strategies. The insights gained will empower you to make informed decisions, navigate policy changes, and build investor confidence, all contributing to your organisation’s nature-positive future.
Next week, the European Business & Nature Summit (EBNS) 2023 will take centre stage in Milan, Italy, on October 11th and 12th. The summit will gather over 350 participants from more than 200 organizations, poised to make a significant impact on the relationship between business and nature. EBNS serves as a pivotal event for leaders, policymakers, experts, and practitioners in business and finance, united by a common mission. In the face of an urgent global biodiversity crisis, the EBNS 2023 Summit provides a vital platform to align businesses and financial institutions with global ambitions and translate these aspirations into actionable strategies. Join us for a series of enlightening keynotes, high-level policy dialogues, and expert-led working sessions designed to guide businesses toward embracing nature-positive transformations. The summit also features a diverse array of side events and promises tangible outcomes, including commitments from businesses and financial institutions, the establishment of a national business and biodiversity working group, and the launch of a target-setting framework and guidance for financial institutions. Don't forget to mark your calendars, as online participation will be available for both high-level policy dialogues and working sessions. This ensures that the impact of EBNS 2023 Summit reaches a global audience.
