The Ad Hoc Multidisciplinary Group on Environment (GME) started its operations in May 2024. The GME marks a new step in the Council of Europe’s intensified efforts to address environmental challenges and their impact on human rights, as set forth in the Reykjavík Declaration adopted at the 4th Council of Europe Summit of Heads of State and Government in May 2023. The Summit affirmed that “a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is integral to the full enjoyment of human rights by present and future generations.” The GME was established to develop a Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment.
Bern Convention
The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (the “Bern Convention”) is a binding international legal instrument in the field of nature conservation, covering most of the natural heritage of the European continent and extending to some States of Africa. It is the only regional Convention of its kind worldwide, and aims to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats, as well as to promote European co-operation in this field. 49 countries and the European Union have already signed up to the Convention.
In 1989, the Council of Europe launched the Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (Emerald Network) as part of the Bern Convention, which now covers over 3 500 sites all over Europe dedicated to areas of special conservation interest. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe also awards the European Diploma for Protected Areas.
Landscape convention
See also the Section “Culture and Education for Democracy”. The Council of Europe Landscape Convention, ratified to date by 40 member States, is aimed at the protection, management and planning of the landscape, with reference to the entire territory of the States parties, promoting public awareness and participation. The Convention is based on the assumption that landscape is a key element of individual and social well-being everywhere, an essential component of human beings' surroundings and an important part of their quality of life. The Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP) is the Committee responsible for activities related to Culture, Heritage and Landscape and to follow-up on their implementation, monitoring and evaluation. In addition, Conferences on the Council of Europe Landscape Convention are held every two years.
Civil society is largely involved in the work of the above-mentioned bodies, through the observership status, the participatory status and the Conference of INGOs, and on an ad hoc basis. For instance, 15 leading NGOs are observers with the GME. This helps to ensure that the outcomes have a real and innovative impact.
EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement
EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement is a platform for co-operation in the field of major natural and technological disasters between Europe and the South of the Mediterranean. Set-up in 1987, its main objectives are to reinforce and to promote co-operation between member States in a multi-disciplinary context to ensure better prevention, protection against risks and better preparation in the event of major natural or technological disasters. It has to date 22 member States. At the political level, the Ministerial Meeting takes place every four/five years except when circumstances and emergencies can justify Ministerial meetings being held at other times. It is assisted by the Committee of Permanent Correspondents who meet once a year. At the scientific and technical level, the specific role of the Specialised Euro-Mediterranean Centres (also meeting once a year) is to develop projects, both at national and regional levels, which aim to improve the awareness of and resilience to major risks within the population.
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