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Biodiversity and climate change
Ljubljana, 7-8 June 2007
NGO seminar on the Slovenian Presidency of the EU
Pieter de Pous, EEB policy officer biodiversity, water and soil
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Climate change - Biodiversity
Climate change
Biodiversity
UN-FCCC and Kyoto
protocol
IPCC
CBD but no ‘biodiversity
protocol’
Millenium Ecosystem
Assessment
Stern
-
Al Gore
-
Emission trading
-
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Potential conflicts
In mitigating climate change:
• Hydropower
• Massive production of energy crops for
biofuels/bioenergy
• Windfarms in the wrong place
• Payments for ecosystem services: only Carbon has a
monetary value
In adapting to climate change:
• Costly and drastic flood defense measures
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Limits to forest biomass
Also when using biomass from
forestry and agriculture ‘waste’
there is a need to keep nutrients
within the forest and agri
ecosystem
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Win-win situations
Protection of upstream flood forest
reduces downstream flood risk
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Principles to avoid conflicts
1. Not everything that is good for climate is good for the
environment.
2. Impacts of climate change will be much worse if
biodiversity is lost and ecosystems degraded.
3. Preserving biodiversity and ecosystems should be the
underlying principle for successful mitigation and
adaptation policies.
4. Thorough and ambitious implementation of EU
environmental legislation will allow for proper trade-offs
between climate change and other environmental
problems.
5. Climate change cannot be used as an excuse not to
implement these directives.
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Practical consequences: biofuels
A mandatory volume target should be avoided as long
conditions are not in place to ensure sustainable
sourcing of raw materials:
– E.g within EU: Increase in rape seed production main reason
why use of mineral fertiliser is still increasing
– E.g third countries: Palm oil currently used in cogeneration
comes from peatland rainforest in Indonesia: leads to massive
extra emissions from the soil.
Win-win situations:
– ‘Waste materials’ from N2000 site management could be used
for bioenergy in Combined Heat and Power plants.
– Production of biogas from animal waste and sludge also helps
reduce nitrates pollution and reduce eutrophication.
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Practical consequences; water
If the Water Framework Directive is implemented properly:
– a hydro power plant could be build if the environmental and
resource costs are considered and the company is able and
willing to pay them.
– Water pricing policies will give incentives to consumers, farmers
and industry to swift to crops, products and technologies that
minimise water use.
– Upstream wetland restoration leads to reduced downstream
flood risk as well as increased storage capacity for dry periods
and an increased carbon content of soils.
– Significantly improved water quality will reduce costs of purifying
water.
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Practical consequences; nature
If the Habitats and Birds directive are implemented
properly:
– Within approximately 17% of the EU territory the protection of
biodiversity and ecosystems is given the highest priority.
– Species protection requirements drive agriculture and forestry
operations to be more biodiversity friendly, improving the corridor
function of lands adjacent to N2000
– Developments for certain renewables if no alternative technology
or site can be found and overriding interest proven: need for
clever planning.
– A functioning ecological network would accommodate shifting
climatic zones.
– Adaptation to climate change: protection of wildlife friendly
landscape elements reduces erosion risks. Close to nature
forestry better adapted to deal with extreme weather and
diseases.
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Relevant EU policy developments
Commission will publish Green Paper on Adaptation to
Climate Change on June 19:
– Discussions and consultation will be organized through a
number of conferences in the second half of 2007
– A white paper with more substantial policy proposals to be
expected under the Slovenian presidency?
Commission will publish a proposal for a Renewables
Directive second half of 2007
– Discussions in Council to start under the Slovenian presidency?
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Suggestions for Slovenian presidency:
biofuels
From the EEB’s priorities for 2008:
• - Given the uncertainty around sustainability of production and
timing of second generation biofuels entering the market on a large
scale, not to pursue with a legally binding biofuels target in the legal
proposal implementing the Council position.
• - to lead a critical assessment of the Commission’s proposals,
insisting on a system of environmental safeguards, including
mandatory certification, based on a solid and comprehensive life
cycle analysis
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Suggestions for Slovenian presidency:
biodiversity
From the EEB’s priorities for 2008:
• - a robust and honest review of progress made with biodiversity
protection in the EU, with high level involvement, including from the
European Council, based on the outcome from the SEBI 2010
process.
• - In relation to adaptation to climate change, make sure that
implementation of the Habitats and Birds Directive leads to the
creation of a functioning, robust European ecological network that
will help achieve ecosystem resilience in the face of climate
change.
• - integration of the biodiversity EU objectives in the CAP Health
Check and the budget review. The EU Common Agriculture Policy
should have biodiversity protection and the provision of ecosystem
services in the EU as one of its long term strategic goals.
• - High level discussions on a post 2010 biodiversity policy which will
aim to halt as well as reverse biodiversity loss.
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Thank you for your attention !
European Environmental Bureau
Bureau Européen de l’Environnement
Boulevard de Waterloo
B- 1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: + 32 2 289 10 90
Fax: + 32 2 289 10 99
E-mail: [email protected]
Site Web: www.eeb.org
An international non-profit association
Association Internationale sans but lucratif
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