As part of Romania’s half-yearly
presidency of the EU Council, Bucharest hosted the EU informal meeting of
environment ministers. Debates focused on climate change and biodiversity, as
well as on water management – the control of water pollution with
plastics/microplastics from rivers to seas. Discussions were also related to
the citizens’ role towards low carbon emissions in the future, to a healthy
lifestyle and spatial planning. Strong participation and involvement are
required from European citizens for a long-term decarbonization. Romanian
Minister of Environment Gratiela Gavrilescu said that the implementation of the
measures for checking gas emissions must be a joint effort of the authorities
and the environmental organizations.
As to the way in which mankind protects
biodiversity, the latest UN report warns that many species and habitats are
extinct and the trend will be maintained
in the coming years unless measures are taken. The European Commissioner for
Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Canete, warned that the impact of
climate change must be addressed seriously and an end must be put to the
massive loss of biodiversity. The European official said, We must have a
better coordination in adapting to climate change, play an essential role in
curtailing emissions and more actively support investment in the adaptation
measures. We must also focus on health which should be a new priority of
adaptation. Miguel Arias Canete further said We must find efficient measures
to keep biodiversity and thus provide a better health and a better food
security.
The European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy also
underscored that Europe needed a new business concept to help rapidly spread
innovative technologies and civil society and consumers must participate in
that process. Citizens can reduce emissions changing their behavior, having a
healthier food and using adequate products – the official went on to say. As
regards water management, the Romanian Minister of Waters and Forests, Ioan
Denes, said that the control of water pollution with plastics and microplastics
from rivers to seas was a fairly topical and disquieting topic for the European
citizens as well as for the whole population of the world.
(Translated by A.M. Palcu)