On Tuesday, 16 December Council stressed the need to accelerate action to meet the EU’s long-term environmental and climate goals, particularly the six 2030 priority objectives of the 8th Environment Action Programme. Special focus was put on systemic changes towards the long-term circular economy objectives including full-scale single market for secondary raw materials.
Council acknowledged the findings of both the latest report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) called ‘Europe’s environment 2025’, and the Commission’s mid-term review of the 8th Environment Action Programme (EAP). Despite progress, both reports conclude that further efforts are needed to meet the 2030 priority objectives, especially in climate adaptation and the circular economy.
Nature, biodiversity under stress
In its conclusions, the Council explicitly recognised the insufficient progress towards the 8th EAP objectives and the unsatisfactory state of nature and biodiversity. It also stressed the urgency of advancing both climate resilience and the transition to a circular economy. These issues are interconnected in addressing climate and environmental challenges such as pollution, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity.
Council also called for the proactive integration of climate resilience across all policies and sectors. It stressed the fundamental importance of healthy ecosystems and nature-based solutions as cost-effective means for climate resilience.
Millions of European citizens are directly affected by flooding and/or coastal erosion, and it calls for collective action across the entire EU. – Magnus Heunicke, Denmark’s Minister for Environment
“There is no doubt that climate resilience is one of the great challenges of our time. Millions of European citizens are directly affected by flooding and/or coastal erosion, and it calls for collective action across the entire EU,” Magnus Heunicke, Denmark’s Minister for Environment said.
Increasing recycling crucial
The Council confirmed the need for a comprehensive, efficient and effective legislative framework to accelerate systemic change towards the long-term circular economy objectives.
That includes the importance of a well-functioning single market for secondary raw materials to reduce material extraction and enhance recycling. Council encourages the Commission to explore potential pricing and stimulating mechanisms to level the playing field between circular and linear business models.
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It also emphasised the importance of establishing non-toxic material cycles by rapidly phasing out harmful substances.
