Environment and sustainable management of natural resources

The main objectives of Thematic Programme for Environment and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources including Energy for the period 2007-2013 are to integrate environmental protection requirements into the Community’s development and other external policies and to help promote the Community’s environmental and energy policies abroad in the common interest of the Community and partner countries and regions.

This strategy addresses the following challenges, which have a profound effect on the lives of poor people:

• rapidly degrading key ecosystems,
• climate change,
• poor global environmental governance,
• inadequate access to and security of energy supply.

The response strategy is based on the following priorities:

• assisting developing countries to make better progress on integrating environmental sustainabilityin decision making and thus underpin achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals by building capacity, supporting the involvement of civil society and developing innovative approaches;
• promoting implementation of Community initiatives and agreed commitments (including those under Multilateral Environmental Agreements) on environment and sustainable management of natural resources, including energy at international and regional level and across national boundaries;
• improving environmental integration andpromoting coherence in EU policies affecting third countries through methodological work and enhancing expertise;
• promoting EU environmental policies abroad by strengthening international environmental governance, negotiation and monitoring, assisting the operation of MEAs and other processes, supporting coherent international policy development across the three pillars of sustainable development;
• promoting EU energy policies abroad, in particular sustainable energy options in partner countries and regions by support for policy development and through innovative funding mechanisms.

Source: European Commission