Newsroom
Council of Europe Side Event on “Human Rights, Health and the Environment: Where human rights shape sustainable health and environmental action”
On 10 April 2026, the Council of Europe hosted an online side event on “Human Rights, Health and the Environment” as part of the One Health Summit. The event brought together representatives and experts from the Council of Europe, its intergovernmental bodies, the United Nations Environment...
Council of Europe launches new Steering Committee on the Environment
The Council of Europe has strengthened its work on environmental protection with the first meeting of the Steering Committee on the Environment (CDENV), which was held in Strasbourg on 24 and 25 March 2026. The CDENV supports the effective implementation of the Council of Europe Strategy on the...
New Council of Europe convention marks milestone in the fight against environmental crime
“We must accelerate our collective efforts to combat the environmental crimes that threaten our future” – Alain Berset
Fifth Meeting of the Council of Europe Intergovernmental Committee on the Environment
The Intergovernmental Committee on the Environment (GME) held its final meeting from 2 to 4 December 2025, marking the completion of its mandate. During this session, the Committee reviewed progress in implementing the Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment (2025–2030) and examined...
Factsheet on environmental challenges and national minorities
The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities has today launched a new factsheet highlighting the environmental challenges faced by national minorities, including indigenous communities such as the Sami, and outlining key actions to address them. The...
Council of Europe Adopts Comprehensive Environment Strategy Highlighting Human Rights
The Council of Europe adopted its Strategy on the Environment (2025–2030) reflecting its commitment to a forward-looking, holistic vision that aligns human rights, democracy, and the rule of law with environmental protection. An Action Plan lists the first activities undertaken to ensure its...
Fourth Meeting of the Council of Europe Intergovernmental Committee on the Environment (GME)
At its meeting of 10 to 12 March 2025, the intergovernmental committee on the environment (GME) finalised the text of a draft Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment. Building upon the Council of Europe expertise and standards, the draft Strategy’s objectives include: integrating human...
Charlotte Blondel, Vice-Chair of the GME, participated in the Parliamentary Conference on Protecting the Right to a Healthy Environment
Charlotte Blondel, Vice-Chair of the Multidisciplinary Group on Environment (GME) of the Council of Europe, participated in the "Parliamentary Conference on the role of national parliaments in protecting the right to a healthy environment." The event, held at the historic Abbaye de Neumünster in...
Third Meeting of the Multidisciplinary Group on the Environment
Governments, intergovernmental organisations and civil society representatives gathered in Strasbourg for the third meeting of the Multidisciplinary Group on the Environment (GME) from 11 to 13 February 2025. The GME pursued examination of the draft Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment...
Second Meeting of the Council of Europe Intergovernmental Committee on Environment (GME)
The Multidisciplinary Group on Environment (GME) held its second meeting in Strasbourg, from 9 to 11 December 2024. The Committee adopted a compendium on Council of Europe’s activities on the environment and a report on the challenges faced by member states in this area. The Committee considered...
First Meeting of the new Council of Europe Environment Intergovernmental Committee
The Ad Hoc Multidisciplinary Group on Environment (GME) held its first meeting from 25 to 27 September 2024 in Strasbourg. This 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...
Facing challenges to human rights posed by climate change, 11 July, New-York
2nd Meeting of the Council of Europe Governmental Committee on Environment (GME), 9-11 December 2024, Strasbourg 1st meeting of the new Council of Europe Environment Governmental Committee, 25-27 September 2024, Strasbourg Facing challenges to human rights posed by climate change, 11 July 2024,...
Reykjavík process and the environment
