EU negotiation position in Cancoon: an opinion from grass-root organizations

Dear network members

As we all know EU commission is pushing for the adoption of the proposal to move beyond the 20% greenhouse gas emission target. This will be the EU proposal at Cancoon.

It is indeed true that in Eastern Europe the implementation of the EU "20-20-20" targets is already difficult to achieve. However there is a credibility issue at stake.

Let me be clearer. Europe cannot ask for more severe emission reduction targets to other countries if itself is not able to do that at home. And within Europe, certainly Eastern Europe is where the increase in emission targets is more difficult.

As a European network of grass-root organizations we are consulting ourselves to achieve a consensus for more aggressive emission reduction targets.

We also expect to include REDDs in the Cancoon negotiations and their incorporation in the next protocol. It is essential not to see energy, emission reductions and forest conservation as different issues but indeed all different parts of the same problem.

For that reason APK network ask the EU commission to have a strong position on the negotiation table in Cancoon to achieve a world reduction of CO2 emissions within a definite framework which includes all the different aspects of the climate change issue.

M. Buonomo

APK

IAS in Romania

Dear Friends

just to give you an idea of the seriousness of IAS problem in Romania, just two main points:

1) Two new invasive alien spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in Romanian arachnofauna;
2) present situation in Romania can be described by:

• Low public awareness and opposition to government intervention;
• Shortage and inaccessibility of scientific information (for species identification, risk analysis, detection and mitigation techniques etc.);
• Absence of clear and agreed priorities for action;
• ease of introduction and movement (e.g. through the post), inadequate inspection and quarantine;
• Inadequate monitoring capacity;
• Lack of effective emergency response measures;
• Outdated or inadequate legislation;
• Poor coordination between government agencies, States and other stakeholders.

http://www.ecoportal.ro/modsis/en-alien-species-romania.php

The problem should be addressed as soon as possible through involvement of grass-root organizations

INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES (IAS) in Eastern Europe

Dear Friends

As a main stakeholder representing European grass-root organizations, APK analyzed the report from the Institute from European Environmental Policy

TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO EU STRATEGY ON INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES (IAS)

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/docs/Shine2009_IAS_Final%20report.pdf

with Recommendations on policy options to minimise the negative impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity in Europe and the EU.

As we all know Invasive alien species (IAS) are non-native species whose introduction and/or spread outside their natural past or present ranges poses a threat to biodiversity. They are indeed a serious problem, also in Eastern Europe. However I was not able to find any specific mention of the problem in EU Eastern Europe. In addition at page 7 it is mentioned:

“stakeholder consultations formed an important element for seeking broader input and providing updates on work in progress. The main fora through which government, scientific, professional, industry and NGO stakeholders were engaged included”. It is not clear which ngos were consulted and whether grass-root organizations were involved in the study.

We shall ask the Institute from European Environmental Policy fuerther details on this issue.

IAS is a serious problem which needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

We have received reports from Romania and Moldavia on this problem but found no mention on them in the report.

Let’s hope we receive further clarification on this problem.

Tom Jones

APK

International Year of Forests 2011

Dear friends of the European grass-root network:

UN declared 2011 the International Year of Forests. Let's hope that this helps the acceptance of the REDD in the next UNFCCC treaty. This is the link:

http://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/

M. Buonomo
APK