Luxembourg Environment Minister Stresses Need for Green, Fair, Competitive EU Recovery

On Thursday 18 March 2021, Luxembourg's Minister of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, Carole Dieschbourg, participated in the first informal video conference of European Union (EU) Ministers for Environment under the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Negotiations on a European Climate Law

The Portuguese Presidency briefed ministers on the state of play of negotiations between the Council of the EU and the European Parliament on European climate law. For her part, Minister Carole Dieschbourg expressed her full support for the Presidency to work towards an agreement on an ambitious law as soon as possible.

New EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change

Luxembourg's Environement Minister thanked the European Commission for putting the new strategy on adaptation to climate change on the table and insisted on the importance of integrating adaptation into the different policy areas in order to make our societies more resilient. She highlighted Luxembourgish actions in the field, in particular the anchoring of the national adaptation strategy which identified thirteen policy sectors in the climate law.

Minister Carole Dieschbourg insisted on resorting to nature-based solutions, i.e. "no regrets" solutions, that allow adaptation to climate change while protecting biodiversity and restoring natural ecosystem functions. Taking into account local actors concerning adaptation, she referred to the success of the Luxembourg Climate Pact, the "little brother" of the new European Climate Pact.

Minister Carole Dieschbourg also highlighted the importance of international solidarity in the field of financing adaptation measures at the global level, citing sustainable finance and the Luxembourg-European Investment Bank (EIB) climate finance platform, which particularly attracts private investors.

Greening the European Semester

Luxembourg's Environment Minister recalled that she has stressed since 2015 the importance of integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the European Semester process. She welcomed that in 2021 this has become a reality for several elements of the SDGs, which will accelerate the green transition. She also welcomed the fact that recovery and resilience plans must respect a climate objective of at least 37% and the principle of not causing significant damage to any of the environmental objectives. Minister Carole Dieschbourg emphasised that "the recovery must be genuinely green, fair, equitable, sustainable and competitive".

Sustainability of Chemicals

Minister Carole Dieschbourg welcomed the adoption of the conclusions following the new EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability Towards a Toxic-Free Environment. The minister more specifically pleaded for an immediate and flawless implementation of the strategy taking into account the principles of prevention and precaution. She recalled the importance of increased protection for vulnerable groups and the need to act quickly against per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contaminations. She again pleaded for a close association of the Member States in the implementation of this strategy.

Batteries and Waste Batteries Draft Regulation

Luxembourg's Environment Minister welcomed the “full life cycle” approach pursued by the European Commission with a view to a circular economy. She also welcomed the measures proposed in the batteries and waste batteries draft regulation, which seeks to guarantee, from the material extraction phase, a sustainable production chain for cells and batteries integrating climatic, environmental and human rights considerations.

The minister pleaded for a strengthening of the reporting rules if the recycling operations are carried out in another Member State. She expressed doubts over the "internal market" legal basis proposed by the Commission whilst expressing an interest in the possibility of a dual "internal market" and "environment" legal basis.