Welcome participants to the first meeting of the new Steering Committee on the Environment (CDENV).
The Reykjavík Declaration, adopted in May 2023 by the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe. Its Appendix V on the environment provides the Organisation with a strong political mandate to take immediate and decisive action to address biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change, triple planetary crisis that pose an existential threat.
The Declaration reiterates that human rights and the environment are inseparable: a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is integral to the full enjoyment of human rights.
The CoE Strategy on environment was adopted by the Committee of Ministers ministerial session last May 2025.
In this context, highlight the Organisation’s determination to translate the Strategy into concrete action.
The CDENV will play a central role in ensuring the effective implementation of the Strategy and its Action Plan, including by promoting multidisciplinary and transversal cooperation.
The CDENV brings together representatives of member States, Council of Europe bodies, international organisations and civil society, reflecting the Organisation’s commitment to a comprehensive and inclusive approach to environmental governance.
The Strategy also calls for stronger international partnerships. In this context, mention:
we are launching a Memorandum of Cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme UNEP,
the Council of Europe’s engagement in upcoming major international environmental conferences, including COP17 on Biological Diversity in Armenia and COP31 UN Climate Change Conference in Türkiye, in cooperation with member States to strengthen multilateral action, synergies and visibility.
Under Objective 2 of the Strategy, the CDENV will focus on measures to enhance transparency, improve access to environmental information and combat misinformation and disinformation related to environmental issues - elements that are essential for democratic governance.
Under Objective 3, announce that the Council of Europe will host the First European Forum of Environmental Human Rights Defenders on 3-4 June 2026 at its Headquarters. This initiative organised jointly with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention, aims to foster multi-stakeholder dialogue and promote a safe and enabling environment for environmental defenders. In this context, welcome Mr Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention.
Recall also Objective 4, concerning the Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law, opened for signature last December. This important instrument sends a clear message that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility requiring determination, legal certainty and collective will. Encourage all member States that have not yet done so to sign the Convention as soon as possible, to facilitate its swift entry into force.
Finally, under Objective 5, note that participants will exchange best practices and explore ways to better integrate nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches into governance frameworks, while fully upholding human rights standards, including gender equality, and that the contribution of the Bern Convention to the implementation of the Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment will also be discussed.
Conclude by expressing appreciation for participants’ engagement, offering full support for the work of the Committee, and wishing everyone a rich and fruitful meeting.
