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Read the main outcomes of the G20 Environment Ministers Meeting, held on July 22, and the G20 Leaders Summit organized from October 30 to 31, 2021.

The Governments of Ecuador, Germany, Ghana and Vietnam jointly organised a Ministerial Conference to build momentum and the political will to advance a coherent global strategy to end marine litter and combat plastic pollution.

Building on previous forums, WCEF2021 focused on the system level changes, or “game changers”, needed to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.

On 8 October 2021, at its 48th session, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted Resolution 48/13, officially recognising for the first time that having a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is a human right.

The UNFCCC COP26 ‘Action on Forests and Land Use’ Summit brought together an unprecedented alliance of governments, companies, financial actors, and non-state leaders to raise ambitions to preserve the lungs of the world. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a €1 billion contribution from the European Union.

The first segment of the 4th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-4) took place online from 1 to 5 November, with over a thousand participants and an ambitious programme of work. It constructively considered important issues including evaluation, reporting, funding, increased international cooperation, and the listing of new products under the convention. A second in-person segment is planned for 21 - 25 March 2022 in Bali, Indonesia.

Business leaders and policymakers met in late November and early December at the 2021 European Business and Nature Summit (EBNS), a high-level political and technical forum. They capitalised on the growing awareness that businesses impact and depend on nature and the ecosystem services it provides to align ambitions ahead of the in-person segment of the Convention on Biodiversity’s COP15.

The meeting yielded the adoption of 18 decisions, including a landmark agreement on a sulphur emissions control area in the Mediterranean.

Under the theme “Global Agreements for a Healthy Planet: Sound management of chemicals and waste”, the fifteenth meeting of the COP to the Basel Convention, the tenth meeting of the COP to the Rotterdam Convention and the tenth meeting of the COP to the Stockholm Convention (BRS triple COP) convened in a virtual format from 26 to 30 July 2021. A face-to-face segment will follow in Geneva, Switzerland, from 6 to 17 June 2022.

Discover all the applications to the 2022 edition of the European Natura 2000 Award on our new website which presents everything you want and need to know about the Award in a user-friendly way.

The wait is over, the quest to find the next European Green Capital 2024 and European Green Leaf 2024 opened on Wednesday 15 December 2021. For information on how to apply please see the EU Green Capital Award website.

Don’t miss it: high-level launch event of the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform on Thursday 16/12 with Frans Timmermans

The fast growth of the short-term accommodation rental sector has become a priority for the European Commission.

Despite the current challenges, mayors and city leaders are going the extra mile to ensure a sustainable and innovative future for their citizens.

You have all the tools in your hand to transform your city into a smart tourism destination. The European Commission launched in 2018 a first EU-wide competition for the European Capital of Smart Tourism title.

Open Public Consultation until 31.12.2021

Save the date for the 2-day event to take place early 2023 with 700 participants.