European Union

The Eighth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference opened on Wednesday, 8 June 2016, in Batumi, Georgia. The meeting convened under the theme ‘Greener, Cleaner, Smarter!’ In the morning, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Georgia, welcomed participants to the Conference, underscoring the importance of the EfE process as a platform for international cooperation on environmental issues and Georgia's commitment to a green economy and sustainable development. Christian Friis Bach, Executive Secretary, UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), called for the EfE process to continue to reach tangible achievements to help implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and take bold decisions at this Conference on the proposed Batumi Initiative on the Green Economy (BIG-E) and the Batumi Action for Cleaner Air (BACA). Ambassador Tomáš Pernický, Czech Republic, said the SDGs provide an opportunity for common ground for EfE activities. Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), highlighted the second UN Environment Assembly’s (UNEA-2) resolutions on inclusive green economy and air quality and called on EfE participants to take actions to tackle air pollution and foster a green economy. In the morning and afternoon, a plenary session and interactive discussion took place on ‘The environment dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: moving forward in the pan-European region.’ During discussion, participants focused on: cross-cutting issues; education, water and health; responsible consumption and production; and industry, innovation and infrastructure, among other topics. Participants also addressed, ‘Keeping the pan-European environment under review,’ including a discussion of progress in establishing the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) in support of regular reporting in the pan-European region and key findings and policy messages of the European regional assessment of the Sixth Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6). In the evening, participants attended a reception and cultural event at the State Musical Centre of Batumi, hosted by the Government of Georgia. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided daily reports, daily digital coverage and a summary report from the 8th Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference. Our summary report is available in HTML or PDF format. Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page + Visit the web coverage for wednesday, 8 June 2016 Opening of the Conference The 8th Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference opened with a video of a sand-box show illustrating the Conference themes. Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Prime Minister, Georgia Christian Friis Bach, Executive Secretary, UNECE Archil Khabadze, Chairman, Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, Georgia Ambassador Tomáš Pernický, Czech Republic Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UNEP L-R: Christian Friis Bach, Executive Secretary, UNECE; Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Prime Minister, Georgia; and Chair Gigla Agulashvili, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection, Georgia Opening of the Conference Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UNEP, moderated the session Khayrullo Ibodzoda, Tajikistan Andrei Kovkhuto, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Belarus Giannis Tsironis, Alternate Minister of Environment, Greece Chair Gigla Agulashvili, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection, Georgia Delegates celebrated 20 years of successful implementation of the ECE Environmental Performance Review Programme Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Prime Minister, Georgia, being interviewed by the media. Keeping the Pan-European Environment Under Review Andrei Kovkhuto, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Belarus, addressed participants on the topic ‘From Astana to Batumi: Developing the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) Across the Pan-European Region’ Hans Bruyninckx, Executive Director, European Environment Agency (EEA), addressed participants on the topic ‘The European Environment Agency and Milestones in the European Union and European Neighbourhood Implementation of SEIS’ Delegates discussed the value of SEIS in a video presentation. John Matuszak, US Guenter Liebel, Director General of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management of Austria, presented on SEIS and air quality Inga Podoroghin, State Secretary of Environment of Republic of Moldova, presented on SEIS and the green economy’ Marat Anuarov, Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, presented on ‘Opportunities, Challenges and Priorities on the Road Towards 2030, Including Monitoring of SDGs’ Launch of Regional Assessment GEO-6 Jan Dusík, Director, Regional Office for Europe, UNEP Christian Friis Bach, Executive Secretary, UNECE Matthew Billot, UNEP Regional Office for Europe Participants during a break L-R: Philippe Pypaert and Michel Ricard, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Delegates consulting Norbert Kurilla, State Secretary of Environment, Ministry of Environment, Slovakia Cristiana Pasca Palmer, Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests, Romania Panelists of the session on “Towards a New Society: 10 Years of Education for Sustainable Development” Around the Venue Local musicians entertained delegates at lunch time Musicians before the start of the conference.

On Thursday, 2 June, the OEWG convened in plenary throughout the day. In the morning, the OEWG adopted 13 decisions, including on: the mid-term evaluation of the strategic framework; developing guidelines for environmentally sound management (ESM); the Cartagena Declaration on Prevention, Minimization and Recovery of Hazardous Wastes and Other Wastes; technical guidelines on persistent organic pollutant (POP) wastes; technical guidelines on e-waste, including on further work before COP13; national reporting; providing further legal clarity; cooperation with the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance, including on guidance on Basel Convention provisions dealing with the consequences of illegal traffic; follow-up to the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE); the creation of a new partnership for the ESM of household wastes; cooperation between the Basel Convention and the International Maritime Organization (IMO); cooperation with the World Customs Organization (WCO) on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System; and the work programme for the OEWG for 2018-2019. In the afternoon, the OEWG reviewed and approved the meeting report with minor editorial changes, and heard closing statements. After a special presentation honoring Ibrahim Shafii for his years of service in the Secretariat, OEWG10 Co-Chair Lloyd Pascual, Dominica, gaveled the meeting to a close at 4:27 pm. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web updates and a summary and analysis report from the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention (OEWG10). Our summary and analysis report is available in HTML and PDF Prakash Kowlesser, Mauritius OEWG10 Co-Chair Santiago Dávila Sena, Spain Technical Matters Contact Group Co-Chair Jane Stratford, UK Peter Wessman, European Union Delegates during the last day of OEWG10 The ENB team with the OEWG10 Co-Chairs and BRS Secretariat

MIM resumed in the afternoon of 2 June 2016, and covered MI Ministers’ announcements on government funding for clean energy innovation, organizational decisions on MI, and new collaborative research and analysis. Maros Šefčovič, EU, announced an increase in the EU’s investment in clean energy to more than US$10.2 billion from 2014-2020. He said the EU is working on mainstreaming budgetary allocations from other sectors towards climate change, to a total of US$27 billion in clean energy investment. Tord Lien, Norway, reported on progress made in baselines and doubling plans, noting that all 20 MI countries and the EU have declared plans to double their contributions from a baseline of US$15 billion by 2021. Harsh Vardhan, India, reiterated the collective desire of nations to work together to provide affordable and reliable clean energy for all, which he said had resulted in the establishment of the MI Enabling Framework. He said the Joint Research and Capacity Building subgroup made specific recommendations, including leveraging the MI platform to facilitate partnerships, capacity building, collaboration and research. He expressed his hopes for replicating the success of India’s LED programme in the cooling area before CEM8. Reporting on the Business and Investor Engagement subgroup, Pedro Joaquín Coldwell, Mexico, highlighted the group’s main aims, which include: exchanging information and building relationships; improving mutual understanding of perspectives and priorities regarding clean energy innovation needs and opportunities; attracting and encouraging investment in emerging technologies to expand and and enhancing the innovation pipeline. James Carr, Canada, highlighted the work of the Innovation Analysis and Roadmapping subgroup, saying it has three key deliverables: establishing an online library; compiling a meta-analysis report using the data collected in the library; and a one-year work programme for the subgroup. Secretary Moniz encouraged further sharing of innovative approaches for cooperation with R&D stakeholders, the private sector and others so that clean technology development and deployment can be further accelerated. During a special address, Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader of the US House of Representatives, noted the US commitment to delivering on the promises made during the MIM, including doubling R&D investment over the next five years. Moniz summarized key discussions of the day and thanked partners, sponsors and high level guests for their support. He reiterated the importance of linking government and private sector in accelerating clean energy innovation, and closed the meeting at 6:00 pm. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided daily digital coverage from the Inaugural Mission Innovation Ministerial (MI Ministerial). Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Open Press Public Announcements Cherry Murray, Director, Office of Science, US Department of Energy Mission Innovation Announcements (L-R): Tord Lien, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Norway; Pedro Joaquín Coldwell, Secretary of Energy, Mexico; James Gordon Carr, Minister, Natural Resources Canada; Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President, Energy Union; Harsh Vardhan, Cabinet Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, India and Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy, US Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader of the US House of Representatives, delivering her key note address Investor and Industry Panel (L-R): Michael Langford, National President, Utility Workers Union of America; Dipender Saluja, Partner and Managing Director, Capricorn Investment Group; Prith Banerjee, CTO, Schneider Electric; Thomas Fanning, Chairman, President and CEO, Southern Company; and Sue Siegel, CEO, GE Ventures Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy, US, thanked participants and his staff for a successful conclusion to the MI Ministerial and closed the meeting at 6:00 pm. Startups and Solutions Showcase CEM and MI Ministerial participants heading to the Startups & Solutions Showcase Exhibit at the Startups & Solutions Showcase featuring a fully rendered 3D printed car CEM and MI Ministerial staff ENB team at the CEM and MI Ministerial with (L-R): Franz Dejon, Cherelle Jackson, Kate Helfenstein, Leila Mead, Deborah Davenport and Brandon Jourdan

The Mission Innovation (MI) Inaugural Ministerial convened for its first day on 1 June 2016 in San Francisco, California, US, with US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz chairing the meeting. The Ministerial opened with delegates addressing organizational issues, which comprised of, among other things, the enabling framework, including criteria and processes for additional Members to join. Discussions then turned to baselines, doubling plans, and information sharing. Members reported on progress made in this regard and announced baselines and doubling plans for their countries. Following this, delegates addressed business and investor engagement, and other substantive collaborations. They heard updates on the work of the MI sub-groups on Business and Investor Engagement, Innovation Analysis and Roadmapping, and Joint Research and Capacity Building, including areas for future work. The Ministerial continued with an open discussion, during which delegates had the opportunity to express their views, and provide further guidance, on MI-related efforts. Delegates discussed: technological cooperation; research and development priorities, including those of the private sector; methods to foster further research and innovation; and domestic policies and cost reduction in renewable technologies. A public/private innovation breakfast convened in the early morning and included an update on the Breakthrough Energy Coalition. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided daily digital coverage from the Inaugural Mission Innovation Ministerial (MI Ministerial). Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Public/Private Innovation Breakfast Participants at the MI breakfast session Bill Gates, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with Carlos Moedas, EU Bill Gates, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with Laurence Tubiana, France Richard Branson, Virgin Group, being interviewed by IISD Reporting Services Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy, US L-R: Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy, US, Richard Branson, Virgin Group, and Bill Gates, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation View of the MI working breakfast session Jerry Brown, Governor of California, US Vardhan Harsh, Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, India Jonathan Pershing, US Bob Hamilton, Canada Mission Innovation Inaugural Ministerial Closed Door Discussions

The tenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG10) of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal opened in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday, 30 May 2016. In the morning, parties discussed several strategic issues, including work on developing guidelines for environmentally sound management (ESM), and the follow-up to the Cartagena Declaration on the Prevention, Minimization and Recovery of Hazardous Wastes, including a draft guidance to assist parties in developing efficient strategies for achieving the prevention and minimization of the generation of hazardous and other wastes and their disposal. The OEWG established a Strategic Matters Contact Group to develop draft decisions on both. Canada introduced a proposal on the mid-term review of the Strategic Framework. On technical issues, delegates considered technical guidelines on wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (POPs), focusing their discussion on how best to handle low-POPs wastes. A Technical Matters Contact Group was established to further discuss this issue. In the afternoon, delegates returned to technical issues. They discussed further work on the technical guidelines on electrical and electronic wastes (e-waste), and this referred to the Technical Matters Contact Group. The OEWG also assigned to this same Group an examination of the proposed list of waste streams for which practical guidance on inventory could be developed, and consideration of whether to update existing technical guidelines on incineration on land, on specially engineered landfill and on hazardous waste physico-chemical treatment and biological treatment. On legal matters, delegates discussed the draft glossary on terms and definitions, and the review of Annexes I, III and IV and related aspects of Annex IX to the Basel Convention. A Legal Matters Contact Group was created to discuss these issues further. The OEWG also discussed the progress report since the 12th Conference of the Parties (COP12) in the work of the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE). The Strategic Matters Contact Group was mandated to prepare a draft decision on the guidance document and draft concept of a follow-up partnership to PACE. In the evening, the contact groups on technical matters and strategic matters met. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web updates and a summary and analysis report from the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention (OEWG10). Our summary and analysis report is available in HTML and PDF L-R: Kei Ohno-Woodall, BRS Secretariat; Co-Chair Santiago Dávila Sena, Spain; and Co-Chair Lloyd Pascal, Dominica Reginald Hernaus, The Netherlands, speaking on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. Kerstin Stendahl, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, delivered an opening statement. Anne Daniel, Canada, intervening regarding the mid-term evaluation of the strategic framework. Agustina Camilli, Uruguay, speaking on behalf of GRULAC. Participants during the first day of OEWG10