It’s a great pleasure to present DG Environment’s “2022 Highlights” newsletter - a special edition to wrap up the year and revisit some of the accomplishments of the past 12 months.
Historic global deal for nature and people reached at COP15 (19/12/2022)
COP15 in Montréal was the biggest biodiversity conference in a decade. World leaders adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, containing goals and targets to protect and restore nature. Find out more about the agreeement and the EU's role.
EU agrees law to fight global deforestation and forest degradation driven by EU production and consumption (06/12/2022)
In December, the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on a new EU law on deforestation-free supply chains, just 12 months after the Commission's proposal.
Pioneering proposal to restore Europe's nature by 2050 (22/06/2022)
The Nature Restoration Law proposed in June is the first continent-wide, comprehensive law of its kind, aiming to restore ecosystems, habitats and species across the EU’s land and sea.
EU agrees new law on more sustainable and circular batteries (09/12/2022)
The European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement in December on a new law to make all batteries placed on the EU market more sustainable, circular and safe. The rules will support EU's energy transition and competitive industry.
New rules proposed to stop wasteful packaging and boost reuse and recycling (30/11/2022)
In November, the Commission proposed new EU-wide rules on packaging, to tackle this constantly growing source of waste and of consumer frustration. The Commission also brought clarity to consumers and industry on biobased, compostable and biodegradable plastics.
New proposals to make sustainable products the norm and address textiles (30/03/2022)
The Commission presented a package of proposals in March to make sustainable products the norm in the EU, address textiles and empower consumers for the green transition.
New rules for cleaner air and water (26/10/2022)
Clean air and water are essential for healthy people and nature. In October, the Commission proposed stronger rules on ambient air, surface and groundwater pollutants, and treating urban wastewater.
Modernising EU industrial emissions rules to steer large industry in long-term green transition (05/04/2022)
In April, the Commission presented proposals to update and modernise the Industrial Emissions Directive, key legislation to help prevent and control pollution.
Commission sets up rules to identify endocrine disruptors and long-lasting chemicals and to improve labelling (19/12/2022)
The Commission proposed a revised Regulation on classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals (CLP) and introduced new hazard classes for endocrine disruptors and other harmful chemical substances to better protect people and the environment from hazardous chemicals.
Environmental implementation: Commission urges EU countries to better apply EU environmental rules (08/09/2022)
The third Environmental Implementation Review published in September shows that progress in applying environmental rules has been made in some areas but the implementation gap in other areas is widening.
Infringements map and dashboard (08/09/2022)
Check out the newly launched interactive infringements map and dashboard for information on active and closed infringement cases per country, sector and more.
EU Green Week 2022 is drawing to a close... (02/06/2022)
Dedicated to the theme of making the European Green Deal real, Europe’s biggest annual event on environmental policy started with a hard question: is there still a place for green policies in times where people struggle with high energy prices, supply chain disruptions that will lead to rising unemployment, high inflation and a war on Europe’s doorstep? The two-day conference explored what it will really take to transform to a circular, nature-positive and zero pollution economy.
Opening words (30/05/2022)
Watch European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s address to participants at the opening session.
30 May highlights (30/05/2022)
Check out the video highlights from the first day of the EU Green Week 2022 conference.
Special message (30/05/2022)
Sir David Attenborough delivered a special message on the LIFE Programme and Natura 2000.
31 May highlights (31/05/2022)
See what participants had to say about the second day of the EU Green Week 2022 conference.
EU Youth Dialogue with Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries (30/05/2022)
Stressing the importance of listening to young voices, Commissioner Sinkevičius met youth representatives from across the EU and Ukraine. Youth delegates posed their questions under five themes: nature and biodiversity, the consequences of war and the pandemic, fashion and textiles, food production and joint action.
Opening session - All change? What happens to EU Environmental Policy in times of crisis (30/05/2022)
What happens if wars, economic downturns, pandemics and food crises overshadow environmental policy? Tackling this tough question, speakers highlighted the need to keep environmental priorities high on the political agenda. Ruslan Strilets, Ukrainian Minister for the Environment, spoke of the Russian crimes against people, infrastructure and the planet, highlighting that “Nature is priceless” and a price must be put on this damage.
LIFE Awards 2022 - special 30th anniversary edition (30/05/2022)
Including a video appearance from Sir David Attenborough, this session marked the 30th anniversary of the LIFE Awards. Three projects in the fields of nature protection, environment, and climate action were recognised, with the LIFE Citizens’ Prize awarded to the public’s favourite project, and a special tribute paid to a successful LIFE project implemented in the Natura 2000 network.
Circular Economy - Designed to last: sustainable and connected products (31/05/2022)
In this lively discussion, speakers zoned in on the Commission’s legal proposal to make sustainable products the norm and how new business models are critical to achieve change. On the systemic transition to sustainable products, Professor Jan Jonker said “It’s not always going to be popular, but it’s absolutely necessary if we want to keep on living within the boundaries of this planet”.
Zero Pollution - Who pays the price for pollution? (31/05/2022)
This session centered on the polluter pays principle and how it should be better applied at EU level, bringing questions of fairness and justice to the forefront and emphasizing that it is people who pay the price for pollution. Femke Groothuis, co-founder and president of The Ex’tax project highlighted that “Only 0.2% of all tax revenues are based on pollution and resource use, even worse, we’re subsidising pollution to the tune of €50 billion a year.”
Speakers highlighted the manifest links between halting biodiversity loss and restoring nature, and tackling food security and climate change. On the upcoming EU proposal for an EU nature restoration law, Janez Potočnik, UNEP Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel, emphasized “If anybody is questioning that we need a strong nature restoration law, it’s actually questioning that humans are part of nature. With a nature restoration law, we are basically protecting ourselves”.
Closing session - From hope to action (31/05/2022)
The conference ended with an uplifting and forward-looking panel where circular business innovators, forward-thinking economists and nature conservation entrepreneurs enthusiastically shared their positive experience of “making the Green Deal real”. Participants were left with a clear message – that people influence change and every single one of us can help make Europe green.
30th Birthday Party for EU Ecolabel (31/05/2022)
Wrapping up the 2-day conference, Florika Fink–Hooijer, Director General for Environment, European Commission, inaugurated the EU Ecolabel “Showroom on Wheels”. The showroom will now travel all around Europe. Follow the journey!
Webinar on inclusive circular economy (business models and supporting policies) in South Africa (01/06/2022)
Organised by the EU Delegation to South Africa, this webinar raised awareness on the innovative circular business models emerging in South Africa and in the EU, spotlighting these circular economy pioneers.
The Greenfluencers' Flash Mob (01/06/2022)
Young Europeans nicknamed "Greenfluencers" performed flash mobs in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Slovenia. By performing an activist song, the Greenfluencers raised awareness about global warming.
De-risking the adoption of green technologies for sustainable industrial transition (01/06/2022)
The fifth Environmental Technology Verification Scheme (ETV) stakeholder forum focused on mainstreaming ETV as a tool de-risking market adoption of new environmental technologies.
Green Governance Week (02/06/2022)
This full-day event in Romania saw participants discuss many topics, including the potential of green digital technologies to achieve Green Deal goals.
Green Deal: the Europe to support the environment for the Earth’s future (02/06/2022)
The Catania University took schools and groups of visitors on trips to discover rich biodiversity in nature.
Check out upcoming partner events (03/06/2022)
Although EU Green Week 2022 is almost over, many Partner Events are taking place until Sunday 5 June. Check out the full list of upcoming events.
@EU_ENV (30/05/2022)
Ukrainian Minister for Environment Ruslan Strilets at the #EUGreenWeek:
The war in Ukraine and its effects on nature affect all of us around the 🌍 with:
⚠️ 257 ecocides
⚠️ 1500 nature destructions
Together, we can join forces to fix environmental damages caused by the conflict
@VSinkevicius (31/05/2022)
The #EUGreenDeal has offered the starting line for people who are making it real, with their work.
It’s not the policies alone that will make Europe green.
It’s You.
Urban beekeepers, circular business innovators, forward-thinking economists.
You make it real!
#EUGreenWeek
@florikafink (31/05/2022)
Closing an eventful #EUGreenWeek with a 🎂 for 30 years of #EUEcolabel guiding consumers towards truly eco-friendly choices!
The 🆕 Showroom on Wheels will bring its sustainable products & services closer to consumers across the 🇪🇺.
Pollinator Park Virtual Reality experience (30/05/2022)
Participants were able to step into the unknown and discover what our world would look like without pollinating insects. Try it at home!
Take action on World Environment Day (05/06/2022)
Under the slogan “Only One Earth”, this year’s World Environment Day on 5 June focuses on living sustainably in harmony with nature. Discover the Practical Guide of actions that individuals and organisations can take to celebrate, protect and restore our planet.
