Greening Europe for the Spanish EU Presidency - Biodiversity is life. Biodiversity is our life.
 Javier Milla
The International Year of Biodiversity has to mark a turning point for the future of teh planet.
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Greening Europe is the bi-annual publication presenting BirdLife's priorities for each EU Presidency. You can download the PDF version of the Greening Europe for the Spanish Presidency here. If you want to receive the publication, please send an e-mail to europe@birdlife.org.
The slogan for the International Year of Biodiversity that is celebrated in 2010 puts into simple words what is at stake. The rapid loss of species and their habitats is undermining the chances of humanity to tackle and come safely through climate change. Currently, terrestrial and marine ecosystems absorb roughly half of the CO2 emissions humanity generates. If we continue to destroy these ecosystems, they may turn from being “climate allies” into uncontrollable emitters of greenhouse gases. Healthy and diverse nature also protects us from storms, floods, and drought that a changing climate will bring.
Furthermore, hard evidence is building on the economic values of biodiversity – and the huge costs of inaction. Last but not least, we strongly believe in our moral duty to preserve the beauty of our planet for future generations.
The European Union’s governments are failing to meet their target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010. This embarrassing news comes at a time when Europe once again wants to be seen as a world leader in environmental protection - and at a time when our shaken economy is at a crossroads. 2010 will show whether Europe will follow a destructive “business-as-usual” approach, or whether we can start building an environmentally and economically stable future.
The International Year of Biodiversity has to mark a turning point for the future of this planet. This requires strong leadership from European Heads of Government, and all relevant Ministers, notably Finance, Industry, Energy, Agriculture, Fisheries and of course Environment. BirdLife offers its full support to the Spanish EU Presidency to meet this great challenge.
BirdLife’s keys to a successful Spanish Presidency
• The EU must adopt, at the highest political level, a far-reaching and ambitious new 2020 biodiversity target and show credible leadership in global negotiations on biodiversity in 2010.
• The Presidency and Member States must decide how the EU will ensure its fair contribution to international climate financing, stopping the destruction of tropical forests and strengthening the resilience of ecosystems.
• The Spanish Presidency, all Member States and the European Parliament should urge the Commission to propose and adopt a strong and sound set of sustainability standards for all types of bioenergy.
• The Spanish Presidency should ensure that all relevant Council formations have an open debate on the future of the EU Budget, based on the Commission’s Budget Review paper (expected in early 2010).
• The Spanish Presidency and all Member States should urge the Commission to propose without any delay a strong EU Seabird Action Plan for reducing seabird bycatch for approval by the Parliament and the Council during the Spanish Presidency.
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