The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals were at the heart of talks during an 'Environment' Council meeting held yesterday at the European Convention Center in Luxembourg.

Minister of the Environment and President of the Council of Environment Ministers, Carole Dieschbourg, welcome the negotiators of the 195 countries which approved a negotiating text in Bonn on Friday. The text, created ahead of the upcoming Paris Conference on climate change, should lead to an ambitious global agreement to curb global warming. Minister Dieschbourg however warned that "The key questions are not resolved, and at this stage we have more options than decisions. This leaves a lot of work to do in Paris".

Also discussed were subsidies harmful to the environment, with the Ministers present examining a paper from the Presidency on reflections for voting for greater policy coherence in fighting this issue.

"If we want to spend less and better protect our health and the climate, it is time to align policies," continued Minister Dieschbourg. "I find it unacceptable that two-thirds of energy investments in the world are still devoted to fossil fuels and that 50% of agricultural subsidies in OECD countries are detrimental to the climate. European fiscal policy must be a tool in counteracting this trend".

A significant subject addressed was the recent Volkswagen scandal, in which it was determined that German car manufacturer Volkswagen had installed software in 11 million vehicles which allowed them to bypass official emissions tests and conceal their pollution which was found to be around 40 times higher than permitted by US standards.

The Ministers exchanged views with Commissioner Bienkowska, with the latter announced a proposal from the European Commission for the end of the year which will aim to strengthen European supervision of national approval procedures for vehicles. The Presidency criticised the gap between official and actual emissions from cars which enabled Volkswagen to evade repercussions for so long, and advocated that new test procedures in real situations be applied as quickly as possible to cars.

"We are facing a huge credibility problem for the European automotive industry and the reputation of the entire European Union," stated Carole Dieschbourg. "The European Commissions needs to shed light on this scandal and the discrepancies between actual and theoretical emissions from cars. We will not improve our air quality if the industry continues to shirk its obligations in complying with the Euro 5 and Euro 6 regulations in place".

 

Photo by Déi Greng (Minister of the Environment, Carole Dieschbourg)