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EU environment ministers approved conclusions on preparations for the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. COP29 will take place in Baku (Azerbaijan) from 11 to 22 November 2024.
Ministers concurred that climate change is an existential threat to humanity, ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as to peace and security.
At the 29th United Nations climate change conference (COP29), the EU will support an effective, achievable and ambitious global goal on climate finance and will call for ambitious climate plans to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C within reach.
This ambitious yet balanced text, grounded in consensus among EU countries, will serve as the EU’s roadmap to Baku. The EU will continue to play a leading role in international efforts to limit global warming, calling for solidarity with vulnerable countries and communities in this collective battle, because climate change spares no country, territory or region.
Anikó Raisz, Hungarian Minister of State for Environmental Affairs and the Circular Economy
Ministers approved conclusions on the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), to take place in Cali (Colombia) from 21 October to 1 November 2024.
In its conclusions, the Council reaffirms the commitments made in 2022 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: to protect a third of the planet for nature by 2030 and to put nature on a path to recovery for the benefit of people and planet.
Ministers agreed that the continued loss of biodiversity is a global and existential threat to humanity and transformative change is needed to address this challenge. Against this background, the Council stresses the urgent need for the full and effective implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Ministers also reaffirmed their commitment for advancing resource mobilization and for finalizing the multilateral mechanism on the fair and equitable access and benefit sharing from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources.
Two years ago, we agreed to protect a third of the lands, water and seas of this planet by 2030. Our success will rely on swift action and should be thoroughly measured through effective monitoring of our progress. Furthermore, biodiversity should be present across all policies and sectors: we depend on it for medicine, energy, clean air and water and it protects us from natural disasters.
EU environment ministers also exchanged views in preparation for the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5), which will take place in Busan (Republic of Korea) from 25 November to 1 December 2024. This committee was tasked by the UN Environment Assembly with developing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.
Ministers provided political guidance to the Hungarian presidency and defined the way forward towards the adoption of a successful, ambitious and effective treaty at INC-5. In particular, ministers identified possible areas of flexibility and convergence to ensure an effective treaty that maintains an adequate level of ambition in the fight against plastic pollution while adopting a realistic approach.
EU chemicals strategy
Based on the background note prepared by the Hungarian presidency and the information provided by the Commission, ministers took stock of the implementation of the EU chemicals strategy and provided guidance on the next steps. Ministers highlighted the prominence of the chemicals strategy for sustainability on the political agenda of the next political cycle, in order to protect human health and the environment.
The discussion featured topics such as prioritising any actions that have not yet been implemented, including the revision of the REACH regulation, addressing the challenges from ‘forever chemicals’ (mainly PFAS), improving governance and financing of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and identifying ways to speed up the implementation of the chemicals strategy. Several ministers also referred to the need to ban the export of hazardous chemicals.
EU chemicals strategy for a more sustainable and toxic-free environment (infographic)
Other business
Under other business, the presidency and the Commission reported on the outcome of the 69th meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC69), which took place in Lima (Peru) from 23 to 27 September 2024.
Over lunch, ministers discussed the climate and environmental policy aspects of the Draghi report.
They exchanged views on how its recommendations would best contribute to the EU’s decarbonisation objectives. They also reflected on how the report can help shape EU future policies, including the 2040 climate policy framework and circularity.
The Council also adopted without discussion the items on the lists of legislative and non-legislative A items, including the air quality directive and the Council conclusions on desertification, land degradation and drought.
