Reducing climate change and preserving the environment, while boosting growth, are among the greatest challenges of our times. As regards climate change, the Latvian EU council presidency will focus on two main areas of action - finding new, workable solutions for the EU's emissions trading system and providing support to international climate negotiations. Other focal points include improvement of environmental quality and resource efficiency. We will stimulate discussions that should help to find a balance between various EU policy developments, such as renewable energies and protection of biodiversity.
"The EU council presidency will also lead the preparations of the EU's contribution to international climate negotiations, so that we can reach a new legally binding agreement on a global climate change regime in Paris at the end of 2015"
One of our priorities in the field of climate change is developing the legislative proposal to establish a market stability reserve, which aims at tackling the large surplus of emission allowances in the EU emissions trading system (ETS). The main objective of this proposal is to make this system more efficient and to steer market forces towards investment in low carbon technologies. A functioning carbon market will help the EU achieve its climate goals in the most cost efficient way and contribute to the overall competiveness of the EU's economy. We will put maximum efforts to reaching an agreement on this proposal, with a consensual approach.
The presidency will also lead the preparations of the EU's contribution to international climate negotiations, so that we can reach a new legally binding agreement on a global climate change regime in Paris at the end of 2015. At the European council in October, the heads of EU states and governments endorsed a binding target of a 40 per cent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, allowing the EU to once again be a leader in this area. We will facilitate the preparatory process within the EU and provide the necessary support in the negotiations.
Awareness of environmental issues and understanding of their complexity has steadily evolved and led the EU to address both environmental pressures and drivers that lead to unfavourable impacts. In this respect, the seventh environmental action programme, along with flagship initiatives, lays a solid basis for prioritising actions. The Latvian EU council presidency will strengthen incentives that lead to a better environment within the EU as well as address global challenges.
As for priorities in the field of environment, we will work on proposals for improving environmental quality and resource efficiency. As we are discussing the role of environmental policies in the EU's growth and jobs' agenda, it is worthwhile to reflect upon the quality of our environment and the state of natural capital. In the first quarter of 2015, the European environmental agency will publish its state of the environment report 2015, highlighting the major trends in environmental quality and providing an overview on the progress that has been made in specific environmental sectors. The report is due to be presented during the environment council in March and reflect whether the existing policies help addressing environmental challenges, and what can be done in this regard.
"Our challenge during the next half of the year is to help the Europe find a balanced and sustainable approach to the overall objectives of the EU"
During the environmental council in March, the EU council presidency will organise a debate on the likely environmental aspects to be included in the larger context of the EU's economic governance - the European semester process and the Europe 2020 strategy review. We intend to continue negotiations on the commission's proposals for the review of legislation on waste, aimed to ensure that we attain our targets of resource efficiency and waste reduction.
The same goes for air quality legislation. We are ready to continue the work on the dossiers outlined in the clean air programme for Europe, in particular, the proposal for the directive for medium sized combustion plants.
In April, we invite ministers responsible for environment to the informal environmental council in Riga. At this event, we will focus on biodiversity in connection to other EU policy targets, in particular, we will discuss the promotion of sustainable use of renewable energy sources while avoiding negative side effects on the environment. At the times when we emphasise the need for increased use of renewable energies, it is worthwhile to consider how our climate and energy policies are being balanced against the needs of biodiversity preservation.
In the second half of May, we will organise a conference in Riga on biodiversity issues, notably to assess the implementation of the EU's biodiversity policy and outline trends related to the targets in this area. The findings of these discussions will serve as input into the mid-term review of the EU biodiversity strategy.
Finally, we aim to provide input for various international environmental processes, including sound management of chemicals, waste, biodiversity, species protection and biosafety. There are also issues that need to be addressed by the global community jointly, acting together at international forums.
All in all, our challenge during the next half of the year is to help Europe find a balanced and sustainable approach to the overall objectives of the EU. The economic and technological achievements of today must be seen in perspective - that is, we must not act at the expense of future generations by neglecting our environment. Those in charge of environment and climate in the EU must keep these realities in mind in all aspects of the policymaking process.