Global Issues & External Action

Latest in Global Issues & External Action

• Resource mobilisation at the heart of CBD COP discussions

  The eyes of the world’s biodiversity community are on Hyderabad as Parties to the Convention tackle the pressing challenges faced in implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, including mobilising sufficient resources to translate the Plan into concrete action.

• Refreshing Europe's water policy

  The latest edition of IEEP's newsletter is now available with a lead article on efforts to reinvigorate EU water policy. Plus CAP reform, nature in the Green Economy, using straw for biofuels, emissions trading revenues ...

• What do we mean by Green Economy?

  What is the Green Economy? What policy actions can contribute to achieving it? And how have EU-funded research projects supported these actions?

• Green Economy in the European Union

  Elements of the green economy concept are relatively well integrated in EU strategic documents - but the focus is on achieving green/sustainable growth, rather than achieving a ‘green economy’.

• After Rio, it’s up to us to shape the Future We Want

  Despite some new commitments on Green Economy, oceans, and Sustainable Development Goals, progress on much of the Rio agenda will depend on actions taken by individual countries, blocs (like the EU), companies and civil society networks.

• Rio+20: Flagging the key issues however flimsy the agreement

  Key agendas for the future were given an airing in Rio, whilst the agreement itself remained timid, not least on the Green Economy. IEEP played an active role in keeping this issue in the Rio bloodstream.

• Nature and its role in the transition to a Green Economy

  Published timely before the Rio+20 Conference, this executive summary of a paper by IEEP highlights the role of nature in the transition to a green economy.

• Recognising the value of water and wetlands

  New TEEB study announced at Rio+20 to highlight how conservation and restoration of wetlands can benefit biodiversity and provide cost-effective and sustainable solutions in the context of a Green Economy.

• The Green Economy and Natural Capital

  It’s time to account for the value of ecosystems and biodiversity in a Green Economy, this is IEEP’s message for the Rio Earth Summit.

• European Parliament report on sustainable competitiveness and innovation

  The CAP could, and should, be primarily to assist EU agriculture to become more internationally competitive and sustainable and to achieve this by innovation. It already has many instruments to do this, and the reforms could further assist. However the resources deployed could be far better used.

• Benefit Assessment Manual for Policy Makers: Assessment of Social and Economic Benefits of Enhanced Environmental Protection in the ENPI countries

  This benefit Assessment Manual, originally for internal use, has been turned into a Benefit Assessment Manual for policy makers and experts for wider dissemination and provides an understanding of the methodologies applied for the country benefit assessments.

• Analysis for European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Countries and the Russian Federation on social and economic benefits of enhanced environmental protection – Egypt Country Report

  There are considerable benefits from taking immediate action to address the environmental problems facing Egypt, including in the area of air pollution, water quality and infrastructures and waste management, and safeguarding its natural heritage.

• Regional Synthesis Report: ENPI South - Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, occupied Palestinian territory, Syria and Tunisia

  Investing in improving environmental standards in the ENPI South countries would offer huge benefits in terms of cost savings, improved security (food, water, energy and climate), and improved quality of life.

• Regional Synthesis Report: ENPI East – Synthesis report on: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russian Federation and Ukraine

  Investing in improving environmental standards in the ENPI East countries would offer huge benefits in terms of cost savings, improved security (food, water, energy and climate), and improved quality of life.

• Europe's role at Rio

  Learn about the added value Europe could bring to Rio+20, plus greening Cohesion Policy, improving waste management, and much more in IEEP's Spring newletter

• The new OECD environmental Outlook – an alarm signal that comes at the right moment

  “Urgent action is needed now to avoid significant costs of inaction, both in economic and human terms”. The OECD provides a clear message in its recent Environment Outlook to 2050: Act now – or face major and potentially disastrous consequences.

• On the road to Rio: Green is good – but is it good enough?

  Oslo, 1 March 2012. Nordic conference discusses how Rio+20 Summit could ensure making green economy truly ‘green’ and socially sustainable.

• Value of ecosystem services – putting the ‘green’ into green economy

  Presentation by Marianne Kettunen of IEEP on the value of ecosystem services in the context of green economy at Nordic conference on Green Growth, in Oslo, Norway March 2012.

• Winter Newsletter published

  The latest edition of IEEP's newsletter is now available with articles on the new EU Treaty, the impacts of biofuels on biodiversity, benefits of Natura 2000, and much more...

• On the road to Rio: European scientific community voices support for greener Green Economy

  Helsinki, 12-14 October. European and North-American scientific and technological community agree on their message for Rio+20, emphasising role of natural capital in underpinning Green Economy and echoing key messages from TEEB.