ENV - NEWS

The Conference to discuss the first Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook 2022 brought together around 100 participants in person, from Member States, regional and municipal administrations, businesses, NGOs and academia, as well as about 400 people who connected to the live broadcast throughout the day.

The first-ever summit between the leaders of EU and ASEAN member states marked 45 years of diplomatic relations. The meeting also addressed important sustainable development, climate and energy issues.

The main issue on the agenda was the conclusion of the review and evaluation of the amended Gothenburg Protocol (GP), which had been ongoing since 2020.

The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15) was the biggest biodiversity conference in a decade. On 19 December 2022, world leaders adopted the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework with goals and targets to protect and restore nature.

How can circular solutions be implemented to mitigate climate change and halt biodiversity loss? What are the most exciting solutions already making more out of what we have? How can international trade be a key enabler for the circular economy?

The 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (TEIA CoP-12) recognised the need to address emerging issues of concern for industrial safety, including energy transition and changes of energy sources, cybersecurity, Natech risks in view of wildfires from heatwaves, waste treatment and opportunities in relation to ore-sand and mine-tailing, and the Convention’s relation to these.

The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Mr Ibrahim Thiaw, in his opening remarks underlined the urgency and importance of addressing the drought holistically, as the world has never been so affected by dry spells as it is today. Therefore, the Intergovernmental Working Group on Droughts (IWG) is expected to provide further guidance and advice for the upcoming COP16 to move the global drought agenda.

In a historic decision at the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, Member States agreed to negotiate an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, setting an ambitious timeline to conclude negotiations in 2024.

Contracting Parties, observers, NGO representatives and experts discussed the outcomes of activities implemented throughout 2022, and activities planned for 2023. In particular, the Standing Committee discussed the Bern Convention´s contribution to the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

A total of 44 proposals were adopted to amend the Convention’s appendices, which list the species subject to trade restrictions. Of these, 13 have been submitted by the EU as the main proponent or as co-proponent: on marine species, reptiles, amphibians and tropical trees. Overall, the EU helps achieve stricter trade regulations for more than 500 species threatened by international trade.

The Council made four decisions, including one to endorse six project proposals, three of which received full funding to commence immediately.

Ministers of the environment or their representatives from the eight Alpine countries, as well as delegates from the European Commission, discussed the consequences of climate change on the hydrological cycle in the Alps, exploring key questions about drought management measures and concrete proposals to implement the Climate Action Plan 2.0 and the 2020 Water Declaration.

This event was a forum for government officials, business representatives, international organizations, academics, and civil society to discuss ways to make global trade more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive.

Enabling just transitions, enhancing resource efficiency, addressing sufficiency, and promoting the circular economy were among the key themes discussed at the in-person meeting of International Resource Panel (IRP).

Both sides exchanged on latest policy developments in their respective regions. ASEAN provided key updates on their cooperation on the environment and climate change, guided by the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, while the EU shared information on the implementation of the European Green Deal and the envisioned development of programmes under the Green Team Europe Initiative.

At the Conference the 54 countries of the pan-European region committed to greening their economies and infrastructures and to intensify education for sustainable development.

COFO26 provided a platform for exchange and dialogue among participants and gave strategic direction for the future work of FAO in forestry.

The objective of the mission was to attend and open, together with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the first Green Economy Forum & Exhibition (GEFE) 2022, organised by the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) in Vietnam, and to have bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Chinh, the Minister for Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) Tran Hong Ha and the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Le Minh Hoan.

The purpose of the visit was to discuss important issues of bilateral cooperation between the EU and the Republic of Moldova. Topics included: the critical energy situation, Moldova’s perspective as an EU candidate country, the main environmental challenges of the country, the European Green Deal and issues of regional cooperation.

The mission took place in the context of a steady deepening of EU-Japan relations over the last years, with the conclusion of a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), then an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), followed by the 2021 Green Alliance and the 2022 Digital Partnership — Japan being the first country with which the EU signs each type of partnership.

On 6 December 2022, MEPs reached a preliminary agreement with EU governments on the proposed legislation to fight climate change and biodiversity loss, which will oblige companies to ensure that a series of products sold in the EU do not come from deforested land anywhere in the world.

The Commission proposed new EU-wide rules on packaging, to tackle this constantly growing source of waste and to ensure reusable packaging options, eliminate unnecessary packaging, limit over packaging, and provide clear labels to support correct recycling. The proposals will put the packaging sector on track for climate neutrality by 2050.

The Commission has adopted a revised EU Action Plan to put an end to the lucrative global black market in illegal wildlife trade, which contributes to the depletion or extinction of entire species and furthers zoonotic diseases.

The Commission proposed stronger rules on ambient air, surface and groundwater pollutants, and treatment of urban wastewater to ensure a stronger protection of air and water which are essential for the health of people and ecosystems.