ClientEarth’s Post

🌎We are just one week away from #COP16, the UN Biodiversity Conference, officially kicking off 🌎 Like its climate counterpart (this year #COP29, which will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan), COP16 brings together world leaders from across the globe. At COP16, parties will convene to take stock of the progress made towards the agreement made at COP15, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). This agreement aims to set a global strategy for conserving and sustainably drawing on the world’s biological diversity. COP16 takes place from 21st October to 1st November, in Cali, Colombia, following 2022’s COP15 in Montreal, Canada.   More here, including what we want to see from the conference 👇

⚠️Chemicals can make the EU economy more competitive - but the production and use of toxic substances comes at a big environmental, health, and economic cost. Yet the Draghi report omits this, and many other critical points around chemicals regulation. With 18 other organisations, including European Environmental Bureau, ChemSec and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), we published a joint open letter on the Draghi report considerations regarding chemicals. Read more at https://lnkd.in/eF_mK4NX   Among other things, Draghi's assessment of the chemicals sector doesn't consider that some chemicals may bring higher, long term costs to the European economy than the benefits they provide - from remediation and water clean up costs, to social costs potentially accounting for over 10% of global GDP.   And what about the toxic chemicals that will keep circulating and accumulating within products and pollute our water and bodies for many years after they first got used? There's no comment on that where the report mentions the need for a shift to circular economy. We urge the EU Council and EU Commission to stick to the commitments made, not only on the regulation of toxic chemicals, but on many other key laws. These shouldn't be seen as a constraint, but as tools to help companies comply in the face of increasing sustainability challenges.

NEWS✨ The EU just passed the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (#AAQD). It's an important step forward for people's health: new, stronger air quality standards will protect people in the EU, curb premature deaths and ease the burden on public health systems. Read our take at https://t.co/uhzFY1XdWR Some highlights: Implementation: the new AAQD clarifies the rules on the air quality plans needed to achieve compliance by 2030. These new rules will give local authorities the right tools to reduce air pollution in their zones and comply with the law. Enforcement: after years of litigation on access to justice on air quality matters, citizens and civil society now have an explicit right to go to court to demand better from authorities who fail to protect them from illegal, toxic air. Financial consequences: the AAQD clarifies what financial risks EU countries face if they fail to comply with the new air quality standards on time. This includes compensation for people whose health has been damaged by breaches of the new rules. "All eyes are now on EU countries as they start preparing for the new law to come into force. We urge them to plan ahead and allocate resources effectively, so that local authorities can comply with the law on time" said our lawyer Emma Bud.

❗A new report has revealed that England's nature is in trouble, with serious risks to critical habitats like wetlands, woodlands, and waterways. Urgent action is needed before it becomes too difficult to reverse the damage. We need to put nature at the heart of decision-making. This means adopting sustainable farming and fishing practices, reducing emissions and investing in restoring ecosystems.

With the #ICMForum now taking place, we, along with other civil society groups are raising concerns over the EU’s Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) plans and fossil fuel industry influence. Despite overwhelming evidence showing Carbon Capture and Storage as costly, complex, and ineffective, the Carbon Capture industry continues to shape the EU policy agenda. We can’t let the fossil fuel industry's false solutions delay and distract from the EU’s desperately needed full and fair phase-out of fossil fuels. Read the open letter we've signed here: https://lnkd.in/exGtTJfB

A new WWF report reveals that wildlife numbers have fallen by 73% in 50 years. The destruction of nature means a spiralling crisis for the climate and our livelihoods - we must take urgent action. With now less than two weeks until 2024's biodiversity #COP16, hosted in Colombia, we're urging world leaders to take this opportunity to ensure that the frameworks we have to protect and restore nature are enforced, so that we can reverse this deeply worrying trend. The report found that 'habitat loss and degradation, driven primarily by our food system, is the most reported threat to wildlife populations around the world.' Tell MEPs now that urgent action is needed to protect our ocean habitats 👉 https://lnkd.in/e7QjzpdE

We're #hiring a new Senior Legal Representative, Poland (President of the Management Board) in Warsaw, Mazowieckie. Apply today or share this post with your network.

BP’s reported retreat from cutting oil production would be a step backward in the fight against climate change. It’s clear we can’t leave our planet’s future in the hands of fossil fuel giants prioritising profit over people. #climatechange

⚠️It's happening: EU countries are about to start implementing the Nature Restoration Law. Our new report offers insights and guidance to draft National Restoration Plans - which must be finalised by 1 September 2026. This is another key step towards nature restoration in Europe. 🔎Explore the report: https://lnkd.in/eU-nVzpm #RestoreNature

We're #hiring a new Communications Officer in Brussels, Brussels Region. Apply today or share this post with your network.