Biodiversity and climate change

1. 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

2. Climate change - Biodiversity

3. 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

4. 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

5. Win-win situations Protection of upstream flood forest reduces downstream flood risk

6. Principles to avoid conflicts • Not everything that is good for climate is good for the environment. • Impacts of climate change will be much worse if biodiversity is lost and ecosystems degraded. • Preserving biodiversity and ecosystems should be the underlying principle for successful mitigation and adaptation policies. • Thorough and ambitious implementation of EU environmental legislation will allow for proper trade-offs between climate change and other environmental problems. • Climate change cannot be used as an excuse not to implement these directives.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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?

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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: eeb@eeb.org Site Web: www.eeb.org An international non-profit association Association Internationale sans but lucratif