The Presidency of the Czech Republic in the Council of the European Union and Nature Conservation

The Czech Republic took over its already second presidency in the Council of European Union on July 1, 2022. The Presidency (hereinafter CZ PRES 2022) successfully ended on December 31, 2022.

Achievements of the Czech Presidency in the environmental issues 

The biggest achievement of the Czech Presidency in the field of environmental protection is the approval of the climate parts of the Fit for 55 Package. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990.

The Czech Presidency has also pushed through new rules for batteries, including those in mobile phones and industrial batteries. Demand for batteries will increase in the coming years, up to tenfold by 2030. Therefore, we need to make more efficient use of the scarce raw materials used to produce them, as well as collecting and recycling them. The regulation will also make life easier for consumers, as every portable battery in appliances will have to be replaceable.

At a major international conference in Brno, representatives from 19 EU Member States and the European Commission launched the "Brno Appeal to reduce light pollution in Europe", which calls for support for joint action at EU and neighboring national level to tackle light smog, which threatens all living organisms, including humans.

The Czech Republic has also successfully conducted negotiations on behalf of the European Union at a number of international conferences. The greatest success was achieved at the UN Conference on Biological Diversity, where more than 170 countries agreed on a new Global Biodiversity Framework.

It will significantly increase the share of protected areas on land and at sea to 30% and create a robust source of funding for wildlife conservation to the tune of USD 200 billion per year. The amount of pesticides used will be progressively reduced, as will the volume of so-called 'harmful subsidies' for activities that ultimately harm species diversity. The agreed framework also contains major steps to improve the current state of nature and the landscape. By 2030, 30% of damaged ecosystems are to be restored. 

For more details on the CZ PRES 2022 in relation to the environment, please visit the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic website. 

 

The NCA´s task

 

The Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic´s staff has been involved in developing expert/technical background and deliberations dealing with biological diversity, CITES and whaling, and participated at the COP CBD in Montreal.

Meeting of the EU Nature and Biodiversity Directors

Heads of nature and biodiversity conservation institutions from Europe gathered in Prague on September 28-30, 2022. Natura 2000 and Nature Restoration Law were the main topics of discussion. A field trip to the České středohoří Protected Landscape Area (IUCN category V) was organised during the meeting.



​​​​​​​Prague Appeal

Climate change and the ongoing decline in biodiversity are interlinked and therefore need to be addressed together. This is at the heart of the so-called Prague Appeal, launched by experts on the protection and restoration of climate-resilient landscapes who met at the Czech Presidency Conference on Adaptation to Climate Change. The document summarises how adaptation projects should be approached, what solutions are successful in practice and what does not work. ​​​​​​​