Humanity and society faced with climate change: an agenda for Europe

The Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina © MEEDDAT

• from: 22.09.2008
• to: 24.09.2008
• In: Paris, Maison de la Chimie

From 22 to 24 September 2008, the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union is holding a conference entitled "Humanity and society faced with climate change: an agenda for Europe".

The exchanges will focus on assessing the impact of environmental policies. The conference aims on one hand to discuss a unified and multidisciplinary approach which allows for sound assessments to be undertaken within the European Union, and on the other, to draw up recommendations which enable the 27 EU countries to tackle the collective challenges arising from climate change.

The practice of conducting environmental assessments became more widespread under the impulse of the European Directive of 2001 on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment. Since 1999, the Commission has been developing and widely disseminating MEANS manuals (Methods for evaluating action of a structural nature), which consolidate culture and assessment. Moreover, since 2006, the European Union has required that an environmental assessment and a post-assessment be carried out for all programmes which benefit from structural funds.

• Updated: 26.11.2008

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