The latest stage in the UN negotiations on climate change is taking place in the International Conference Centre in Accra, Ghana, from 21 to 27 August 2008. This meeting will work towards adopting an international agreement under the terms of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and work on post-2012 emission reductions for industrialized countries under the Kyoto protocol.

The day before the EU-South Africa Summit, there will be a scientific conference on research on water and sustainable development.

The day before the next round of United Nations negotiations designed to reach an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gases, France, which is currently president of the European Union, is organising an informal workshop in Reims from 16 to 18 July which it says is a presidential kick-off workshop on the current status of negotiations.

Europe's overseas entities offer the European Union great opportunities for developing its policies and reinforcing its regional and global contribution in terms of the environment.     

Jean-Louis Borloo, Ministre d’Etat, Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Town and Country Planning (Regional Development) brought together the European energy ministers on 4 and 5 July for another informal meeting, straight after the meeting of the 27 environment ministers.

At the informal environment meeting, the French Presidency is launching a working group to strengthen the assessment of GMOs at European level.

Two major priorities of the French Presidency: fighting climate change and energy efficiency

Jean-Louis Borloo, Ministre d’État, Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Town and Country Planning (Regional Development), chairing the informal meeting of ministers for the environment and energy of the European Union with Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, Minister of State with responsibility for Ecology, met with the European ministers for the environment on 3 and 4 July for the first informal meeting of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

This event aims to promote constructive exchange between national and European policymakers on issues of sustainable production and consumption.