UN environment chief meets EU ministers to address SDGs and climate finance

United Nations’ environment chief Achim Steiner addressed the EU Environment Ministers Informal Council on Wednesday, with a key focus on the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate financing.

Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), also held meetings with Ministers and high level representatives of the Governments of Luxembourg and the Netherlands, the members of EU Commission, and senior officials of the European Investment Bank (EIB).

In a morning session of the Informal Council of the EU Environment Ministers, Steiner emphasised how the EU's own development strategy and policy choices will determine whether the SDG targets can be achieved.

Mr Steiner said: "2015 is a year with unprecedented opportunity for change. At meetings in New York and Paris, and building on the outcomes of the Addis Financing for Development Conference, the international community is in a position to take action to keep humanity on the right side of dangerous climate change, eradicate poverty and put the world on a sustainable development path. The EU is in the process of reviewing a number of directives and strategies, such as the "circular economy" package, which will prove central in defining key sectors and pathways for EU countries to achieve the SDGs."

In an afternoon session dedicated to discussing financing climate mitigation and adaptation priorities, Mr. Steiner focused on the short term climate finance challenge for Paris and the longer-term need for alignment of financial capital markets with the objective of decarbonising our economies.

He told the EU Environment Ministers that the integration of public finance, and intelligent policies and enabling regulatory frameworks will spur on private sector "green" investments.

Mr Steiner added: "We must recognize that $100 billion in climate finance is a commitment to a broader transformation. Ultimately, it is the global $300 trillion financial economy of today that must shift towards a low carbon future."

While in Luxembourg, Steiner also had bilateral meetings with the Minister of Environment of Luxembourg, Carole Dieschbourg, Minister of Development Cooperation of Luxembourg, Romain Schneider, and EU Commissioners for Environment Carmenu Vella and for Climate Miguel Canete.

The Executive Director also met with Jonathan Taylor, Vice President of the EIB and his team and Héla Cheikhrouhou, the Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund.