Main results of the EU Environment Council on 12 October 2026

Luxembourg, 12 October 2026

The Council held a policy debate on the proposal for the review of the EU emissions trading system (ETS1), presented by the Commission on 17 July 2026 to strengthen climate ambition and cost-effective decarbonisation, while supporting industrial competitiveness. The EU emissions trading system is the world’s first and largest carbon market. It requires companies to pay for their greenhouse gas emissions, so as to encourage cost-effective greenhouse gas emissions reduction and fund the clean energy transition. The proposed review aims to adjust the carbon market to the EU’s 2040 emission reduction target of 90%.

We must ensure that the EU emission trading system is fit for the next decade. Our aim is to align our carbon market with our climate ambition in a way that also delivers industrial competitiveness. The Irish presidency is focused on reaching agreement by December to fulfil a key commitment of the ‘One Europe, One Market’ roadmap.

^{Darragh O’Brien, Ireland’s Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment}

During the session, ministers discussed the level of ambition of the ETS review, namely the post-2030 trajectory for the annual emissions cap and the use of international carbon credits and domestic permanent carbon removals. They also assessed the proposed funding mechanisms and expressed their views on free allocation of allowances within the system and the need to address the risk of carbon leakage. Several ministers expressed their priorities for the extension of the system’s scope relating to aviation, maritime and waste sectors.

The policy debate provided guidance for the ongoing work within the Council’s preparatory bodies. The ETS review is included in the ‘One Europe, One Market’ roadmap.

COP31 on climate change

Ministers approved conclusions on the preparations for COP31, the United Nations climate change conference, which will take place from 9 to 20 November 2026 in Antalya (Türkiye) under the joint chairmanship of Türkiye and Australia. The conclusions set the EU’s negotiating position and strategic objectives for the event.

At COP31, the EU will focus on the importance of implementing the Paris Agreement and will urge rapid, science-based action to avoid every additional fraction of a degree of warming and to return to a 1.5ºC trajectory. Upholding the principle of multilateralism, ministers acknowledged the central role of the United Nations climate change framework and processes, while stressing the importance of the participation of all EU member states at COP31 and reaffirming the principle of solidarity amongst them.

COP17 on biodiversity

Ministers approved conclusions setting out the EU’s negotiating position ahead of the 2026 United Nations biodiversity conference (COP17), which will take place from 19 to 30 October in Yerevan (Armenia).

The forthcoming conference of the parties – which takes place every two years – will mark the first global review of the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework and the fulfilment of its 23 targets aimed at halting biodiversity loss, including a pledge to protect at least 30% of areas on land and at sea by 2030. At COP17, the EU will call for accelerated actions within and across all policies and sectors to meet these targets.

The Council underlines the continued global threat posed by the loss of biodiversity and is deeply alarmed about the gravity and urgency arising from the interlinked global crises of biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, and the degradation of ecosystems on land and in fresh water and oceans.

In an era where both multilateralism and nature protection are tested, the EU remains strongly committed to achieving positive outcomes for biodiversity at COP17. There can be no lowering of the ambition that was agreed under the global biodiversity framework. We will call for the acceleration of global action and a renewed focus to mainstream efforts across the economy and society.

^{Christopher O’Sullivan, Ireland’s Minister of State at the Department responsible for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity}

Birds and habitats directives: informal lunch

Over lunch, ministers held an informal discussion on the birds and habitats directives. They focused on the dual challenge of ensuring appropriate standards for nature protection and the need to speed up simplification and boost competitiveness.

Nature protection (background information)

Other business

In public session, the Irish presidency, together with the Commission, reported on the 17th session of the conference of the parties to the United Nations convention to combat desertification (UNCCD COP17). It took place in Mongolia from 17 to 28 August 2026 and was the first COP of the three Rio conventions that took place this year.
Background note

In public session, the Irish presidency and the Commission updated the Council on the outcomes of the 70th Meeting of the International Whaling Commission, held in Australia between 27 September and 2 October 2026.
Background note

Italy publicly addressed the need for a stable and competitive EU market for secondary plastic raw materials.
Background note
The circular economy explained (background information)

Austria, supported by Czechia and Estonia, raised a public point about the need to simplify extended producer responsibility (EPR) for small producers and the internal market under the packaging and packaging waste regulation.
Background note
Packaging (background information)

Lithuania, supported by Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Poland, publicly called the Espoo Convention with Europe’s defence to be aligned with readiness priorities.
Background note
Convention on environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context (Espoo Convention)

Poland, supported by Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Lithuania and Slovakia, provided information on the extended producer responsibility (EPR) under the urban wastewater treatment directive (UWWTD) and the fair application of the “polluter pays” principle”.
Background note
Wastewater treatment (background information)

France publicly raised the need to invest in nature across EU policies and financial instruments.
Background note
Nature and biodiversity (background information)

In public session, Belgium provided information on the necessity of uniform European health-based standards for metabolites in drinking water.
Background note
Water (background information)
Watch public session for other business

Meeting files

Outcome documents

List of participants

Press releases

Multilateralism: Council sets EU position ahead of climate change and biodiversity summits

Source – EU Council

Press remarks by Commissioner Hoekstra following the Environment (ENVI) Council

Luxembourg, 12 October 2026

“Check against delivery”

Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, let me thank the two ministers and the Irish Presidency for the work today. This was a testament to our commitment on climate action and the environment. Many things were discussed today but let me focus on two main elements on the agenda in the domain of climate action.

First, we had a very good and extensive conversation on the Emissions Trading System review. There is significant support for the overall architecture, for the overall logic of reciprocity of the system and for making sure we turn the ETS into an investment engine. That is the name of the game to bring climate, competitiveness and independence ever more hand in hand. That was the first discussion.

The second one was on COP31. Thanks to the Presidency, I am convinced we reached very helpful conclusions that will pave the way to COP31. At the heart of that is continued ambition on mitigation, particularly on clean electrification.

This will also be the name of the game at COP. My experience last week at pre-COP is that this is a theme pushed by the Presidencies and by many constituents. I am very glad this was at the heart of the conversation today.

A message we need to convey is that this really is a COP about implementation. We pretty much know what we need to do on climate. We know what needs to be done, and in many cases, we already have delivered it.

An implementation COP should focus on clean electrification. And we are ready to have a conversation on making sure that the finance that was committed lands at the right places.

And let me close on this, science needs to underpin everything we do in this domain.

I’ll pause there.

Thank you.

Source – EU Commission