Environment Ministers discuss EU strategy on adaptation to climate change

Met dank overgenomen van Portugees voorzitterschap Europese Unie 1e helft 2021 i, gepubliceerd op woensdag 17 maart 2021.

The European Union strategy on adaptation to climate change and the problem posed by batteries and waste batteries are two of the issues that will be focused on in the informal video conference of Environment Ministers tomorrow, 18 March.

This meeting will be chaired by João Pedro Matos Fernandes and other participants include the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for the European Green Deal i, Frans Timmermans i, and the European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius i.

This is the first meeting of the 27 EU Environment Ministers during the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU and will take place with two public sessions, one at 8:30 am and the other at 13:30 pm (Lisbon time). A press conference is scheduled to take place after the meeting and can be watched live on the Council of the European Union website.

One of the issues on the table will be the European Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change, which outlines a long-term vision for a Europe more adapted and resilient to the effects of climate change by 2050. Information will also be provided on the status of negotiations on the European Climate Law.

The Environment Ministers will have an initial discussion on the proposed regulation on batteries and waste batteries. Batteries are a fundamental element for the energy transition and the proposal is aimed at reducing the environmental and social aspects of batteries throughout their lifecycle, from raw materials to recycling and disposal. The goal of this proposal is to update the existing legal framework and bring it into line with the European Green Deal.

The order of business also includes the greening of the European Semester and the role of the Recovery and Resilience Facility in this context in light of the green and digital transition, as well as information on the adoption of the Council's conclusions on the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. In addition, the Presidency will be providing information on the adoption of the Council mandate on the 8th Environment Action Programme.

The full agenda for this meeting is available here.