Environment Council, 17/10/2016, 17 October 2016

Main results

Climate: emission reductions

Ministers discussed new legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the sectors not covered by the emission trading system (ETS), such as transport, buildings and  waste. Ministers held a debate on the way forward for the Commission's  proposals for an effort-sharing regulation and a regulation on land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF regulation). They highlighted the importance of this legislation for delivering on the EU's commitment under the Paris Agreement on climate change.

"Last weeks were ground-breaking for climate policies with the EU ratification of the Paris Agreement or the just adopted amendment to the Montreal Protocol on international scene. Now, we need to get our acts together in the EU and implement our international commitments. Therefore, I welcome the first debate among ministers on effort-sharing that gave us important insights to guide our future work on these crucial initiatives."

László Sólymos, Slovak Minister for the Environment and President of the Council 

Water

The Council adopted conclusions on sustainable water management. They are part of a wider debate on the EU's future water policy. The text addresses challenges related to land use and to climate change. It also takes into account the new international context, including the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

"Water is a precious and scarce resource impacted by land use or climate. I am very happy that our focus on water has received so much traction among member states. Today, we sent a strong, clear and timely signal about our firm intention to address those challenges by fully implementing the EU water legislation and achieving our policy objectives."

László Sólymos,  Slovak Minister for the Environment and President of the Council

• Council conclusions on sustainable water management

Biodiversity

Ministers also agreed on Council conclusions on biodiversity, ahead of the meeting of the parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its protocols (Cancun, Mexico, 4-17 December 2016). These conclusions will be the basis for the EU negotiating position at the meeting.

"Biodiversity is essential for livelihood of our and next generations on the planet and for functioning of ecosystems. As species we are part of these ecosystems and we need to act on an international level to halt biodiversity loss and to change the current course towards unsafe levels for biodiversity. By decisions taken today, we have demonstrated our commitment to a successful outcome of the upcoming important international meeting on biodiversity in Mexico."

László Sólymos,  Slovak Minister for the Environment and President of the Council

• Council conclusions on the Convention on Biological Diversity