EU Environment Ministers Highlight Biodiversity in Combating Climate Change

EU environment ministers highlight biodiversity in combating climate change

BELGRADE, April 12 (Xinhua) — The European Union environment ministers on Saturday highlighted the importance of preserving biodiversity in the fight against climate change.

The priorities of the Slovenian presidency set in the field of environment are combating climate change and care for biodiversity, said Janez Podobnik, president of the EU Environment Council and the Slovenian minister of environment, at the Slovenian resort Brdo pri Kranju.

“The role forests play is therefore exceptional. It is an important role in stabilization of the climate change on Earth and in water and local weather phenomena regulation,” said a statement from the EU presidency after the second day session of the three- day informal meeting of EU environment ministers.

Recalling that Europe was in the past seriously affected by forest fires and storms, the statement noted that “healthy and sustainably managed forests can represent a valuable opportunity for mitigation in the fight against climate change through the provision of vital environmental services.”

In this respect, Podobnik shared Slovenia’s experience of good forest management that involves “conserving biodiversity as well as combating famine and poverty.”

Considering the current debates on sustainable criteria for biofuels, Podobnik said in order to establish criteria, an intensive expert discussion is held at the level of the ad hoc working group of the council.

“It is our wish for the criteria to be precise, universal and provable while they should not exclude competitiveness,” Podobnik said.

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