合法博彩网站

The EU has played an important role at international level in seeking solutions to biodiversity loss, deforestation and climate change. The听1992 UN Conference on the Environment and Development adopted the Convention on Biological Diversity. The听2015 Paris Agreement on climate change notes the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity. As part of the European Green Deal, the new biodiversity and forestry 2030 strategies aim to put Europe鈥檚 biodiversity on the path to recovery and to support deforestation-free value chains.

Legal basis

Articles听3, 11 and听191-193 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

General Background

The , held in Rio de Janeiro in听1992, led to the adoption of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Rio Declaration, the Declaration on the Principles of Forest Management and the Agenda听21 programme.

The is complemented by two major protocols: (1) the 听(2000) seeks to protect biodiversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology; (2) the (2014) aims to create greater legal certainty and transparency for both providers and users of genetic resources.

The EU is also a party to the following international conventions: the Ramsar Convention on the Conservation of Wetlands (1971); the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (1973); the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (1979); the Bern Convention on the Protection of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (1982); and the following regional conventions: the Helsinki Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (1974); the Barcelona Convention on the Mediterranean (1976); and the Convention on the Protection of the Alps (1991).

International efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are made under the UNFCCC. In December听2015, the Parties to the UNFCCC adopted the , a legally binding climate agreement that applies to all countries and aims to limit global warming to well below听2听潞C and pursue efforts to stay below听1.5听潞C. Within the UNFCCC, the REDD+ (Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) initiative provides instruments for combating deforestation and forest degradation in the tropics. The Paris Agreement marks the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems, including oceans, and the protection of biodiversity. Moreover, the agreement points to the critical role of the land use sector in reaching the long-term climate mitigation objectives.

Objectives and achievements

A. Earlier biodiversity action plans

In May听2006, the Commission adopted a communication and an action plan entitled 鈥樷��. As the EU was unlikely to meet its听2010 target of halting biodiversity decline, a new strategy was adopted by the Commission in June听2011 in order to 鈥榟alt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystems services in the EU by听2020, and restore them [...], while stepping up the EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss鈥�. In December听2011, the Council endorsed the听, incorporating the following six targets: full implementation of EU nature legislation so as to protect biodiversity; better protection of ecosystems and greater use of green infrastructure; more sustainable agriculture and forestry; better management of fish stocks; tighter controls on invasive alien species; and a bigger EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss.

B. Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora

The 2013 amended (Council Directive听92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora) established a European network, . It comprises 鈥楽ites of Community Interest鈥�/鈥橲pecial Areas of Conservation鈥� designated by Member States, and 鈥楽pecial Protection Areas鈥�. With a total area of over听850听000听km², this is the largest coherent network of protected sites in the world. The Habitats Directive aims principally to promote the conservation of biological diversity while taking account of economic, social, cultural and regional requirements. The 2019 amended (2009/147/EC) covers the protection, management and control of (wild) birds, including rules for sustainable hunting.

C. Invasive alien species (IAS)

A key feature of on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of IAS is the list of IAS of Union concern. The 2019 amended regulation seeks 鈥� through prevention, early warning and rapid response 鈥� to protect native biodiversity and to minimise and mitigate the impact of such species on human health and the economy. Tighter controls on are part of the EU biodiversity strategy to听2030. IAS cause damage amounting to billions of euros every year in the EU, not only to ecosystems but also to crops and livestock, disrupting local ecology and affecting human health.

D. Access and benefit-sharing

was adopted to implement the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing. Under this regulation, genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with such resources can only be transferred and utilised under terms mutually agreed between the users (businesses, private collectors and institutions) and the authorities of the country of origin.

E. Exploitation and trade of wild fauna and flora

The regulates international trade, specifically the (re-)exporting and importing of live and dead animals and plants based on a system of permits and certificates.听The basic Regulation (, amended by ) on the protection of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade applies the objectives, principles and provisions of the CITES convention to EU law. prohibits the introduction into the EU of specimens of certain species of wild fauna and flora.

F. Marine biodiversity

Marine biodiversity comes within the scope of the biodiversity action plans for natural resources and fisheries. The review of the EU biodiversity strategy stresses the importance of the 鈥榞ood ecological status鈥� of seas and coastal areas if they are to support biodiversity. Furthermore, the )听(2008/56/EC, amended by ) on the protection and conservation of the marine environment entered into force in July听2008. It aimed to ensure the good status of the EU鈥檚 marine waters by听2020 and to protect the resource base on which marine-related economic and social activities depend.

G. Forests

Forests make up almost听30% of the surface area of the 狈补迟耻谤补听2000 network. The EU has close to听182 million hectares of forests, covering听43% of its land area and therefore several EU measures are aimed at protecting forests. The ((EU) No听995/2010) lays down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the EU market. It counters the trade in illegally harvested timber and timber products through key obligations and prohibits the sale of illegally harvested timber and timber products.

H. Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF)

The LULUCF sector covers the use of soils, trees, plants, biomass and timber. It is capable of not only emitting GHGs but also of absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere. Until听2020, Member States were committed under the Kyoto Protocol to ensuring that GHG emissions from land use were compensated by an equivalent absorption of CO₂. The EU now aims to enshrine this principle (the so-called no-debit rule) in EU law for the period听2021-2030, by incorporating LULUCF into the EU鈥檚 emissions reduction efforts. Under on the inclusion of GHG emissions and removals from LULUCF into the听2030 climate and energy framework, GHG emissions from LULUCF should be offset by at least an equivalent removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere during the period听2021-2030. The in April听2023 (Regulation (EU)听2023/839) to determine a new听2030 target in line with the European Green Deal. In particular, the objective is to expand EU carbon sinks by听15%, corresponding to听310 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. In May听2023, a aided Member States in aligning land use, forestry and agriculture with updated national energy and climate plans, ensuring compliance with revised regulations.

I. Financial instruments

Since听1992, the EU鈥檚 dedicated funding instrument for the environment has been the LIFE programme. Nature conservation and biodiversity have been included among the sub-programmes. The fifth phase of the LIFE programme covering the period听2014-2020 consisted of two main fields of action: climate change and the environment. Other funding to support biodiversity has been taken up under agriculture and fisheries policies, Cohesion and Structural Funds, and the multiannual research framework programmes. The most recent phase of the is structured in the same way as the previous one, with a budget of EUR听2.15听billion.

J. The biodiversity and forest strategies for听2030

On 11听December听2019, the Commission presented the , an ambitious package of measures intended to enable the EU to become carbon neutral by听2050. to transform the EU into a sustainable and competitive economy. Among the actions proposed is a new (published on 20听May听2020 as a follow-up to the ) with measures to address the main drivers of biodiversity loss, as well as a new (published on 14听July听2021) with measures to support deforestation-free value chains.

The biodiversity strategy for听2030 addresses the five main drivers of biodiversity loss (changes in land and sea use, overexploitation, climate change, pollution, and invasive alien species), sets out an enhanced governance framework to fill remaining gaps, ensures the full implementation of EU legislation, and pulls together all existing efforts.

The forest strategy for听2030 aims to adapt Europe鈥檚 forests to the new conditions, weather extremes and considerable uncertainty brought about by climate change. This is a precondition for forests to continue to fulfil their socioeconomic functions and ensure vibrant rural areas with thriving populations.

In 2022, as part of the EU biodiversity strategy for听2030, the Commission adopted a to 鈥榬estore damaged ecosystems and bring nature back across Europe, from agricultural land and seas, to forests and urban environments鈥�. The aim is to restore at least 20 % of the EU鈥檚 land and 20 % of sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. The law would require Member States to develop national restoration plans to pursue the targets while allowing them the flexibility to take into account their national circumstances. The law was adopted in 合法博彩网站 on 27 February 2024 and is now awaiting confirmation in the Council.

In January听2023, the Commission听published a communication entitled 鈥樷��, aiming at revising the听. The听2018 initiative represented the first ever EU framework to address the decline of wild pollinators. The revised EU pollinators initiative sets objectives for听2030 and actions under three priorities: (1) improving pollinator conservation and tackling the causes of their decline; (2) improving knowledge; (3) mobilising society and promoting strategic planning and cooperation.

Role of the European 合法博彩网站

合法博彩网站 has long been supportive of EU biodiversity protection and climate change policies. In September听2010, 合法博彩网站 adopted , in view of the post-2010听target. It expressed deep concern at the absence from the international political agenda of any sense of urgency in relation to halting the loss of biodiversity, and called for improved biodiversity governance in both internal and external relations.

In October听2015, a 合法博彩网站 resolution entitled 鈥樷�� recalled that climate change is accelerating the loss of biodiversity. It called for an agreement that involves the 鈥榗omprehensive effort of all sectors鈥� and noted that land use 鈥榟as significant cost-effective potential for mitigation and enhancing resilience鈥�.

In November听2016, 合法博彩网站 adopted , aiming at countering this organised and destructive crime as it represents a threat to biodiversity by bringing many species to the brink of extinction. The action plan has three priorities: prevention, enforcement and cooperation. Moreover, the importance of global cooperation between countries of origin, transit countries and destination countries was stressed.

In October 2020, a 合法博彩网站 resolution laid out recommendations to the Commission on . It stressed that trade and investment policy need to be reviewed in order to address the global deforestation challenge in a more effective manner, by creating a global level playing field and taking into account the link between trade agreements and global biodiversity, as well as forest ecosystems.

In June 2021, 合法博彩网站 adopted a resolution on the . It demands: (1) that 30% of EU鈥檚 land and sea must be protected areas; (2) binding targets for urban biodiversity such as green roofs on new buildings; and (3) urgent action to stop population decline of bees and other pollinators. The last demand was taken up by the Commission in January 2023.

In 2022, 合法博彩网站 adopted its own-initiative . It called for an increase in the structural, functional and compositional diversity of forests, and insisted that monocultures should not be supported by EU funds.

For further information on this topic, please see the website of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI).

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Alyssia Petit / Georgios Amanatidis

04-2024