Francisco Nunes Correia

Question: What are the priorities for EU environmental policy during the Portuguese presidency and why?

Francisco Nunes Correia: The three main priorities for EU environmental policy during the Portuguese presidency will be climate change, biodiversity and water scarcity and drought. As one of the great challenges for the future, climate change will remain a high profile priority for the EU, which is determined to take a lead in the global efforts to address climate change. The climate change conference in Bali at the end of the year will be one of the main tasks of the Portuguese presidency. Water scarcity and drought will be the theme of our informal environment ministers’ council on 31 August to 1 September. As an increasing number of countries in the EU suffer from these problems, partly as a consequence of climate change, the Portuguese presidency wants to stimulate a greater awareness and the development of a common approach to this growing problem across Europe. As part of the three presidencies team (Germany, Portugal and Slovenia), Portugal will continue working on all initiatives and measures designed to contribute to the protection of biodiversity – particularly through the business & biodiversity initiative.

Question: Europe took groundbreaking steps on addressing climate change during the German presidency. What do you plan to do to keep the momentum going in the run-up to the Bali summit and beyond?

Francisco Nunes Correia: We will work on the EU position for a balanced and fair post-2012 regime, in line with the EU’s objective to limiting the temperature increase to two degrees above pre-industrial levels; on the further development of the European climate change programme and of the emissions trading scheme. Efforts have to be increased in particular regarding CO2 emissions from vehicles and in further developing carbon capture and storage as well as sustainable forest management. At the external level, the Portuguese presidency will contribute to ensure the EU’s leading role in the international fora, in particular at the Bali conference. We will also try to achieve breakthroughs on the collaboration on climate policy with some strategic partners, in particular during the EU-Brazil and EU-Africa summits.

Question: How do you plan to help Europe live up to its commitments on cutting CO2 emissions?

Francisco Nunes Correia: Europe’s new targets are ambitious, but also achievable. We need to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy, combat global climate change, and diversify our energy sources. Europe will meet its 2020 targets. It has no other option. It is inconceivable to see Europe down the century with over 80 per cent dependence on foreign energy sources. Portugal is doing its share of the EU’s collective 2020 effort. In addition to an ambitious climate change programme of measures, Portugal is world leader in renewable energies – for instance, it is fifth worldwide in terms of wind power capacity.

Question: Nuclear energy has been portrayed by some as a more environmentally-friendly solution for Europe’s energy needs. What are your views on this matter?

Francisco Nunes Correia: The Portuguese government has announced that it will not resort to nuclear energy as a tool to meet its Kyoto targets. We consider that nuclear energy is not a sustainable form of energy, and Portugal’s strategic bet is on renewable energy sources: wind, hydro power, solar, biomass, biogas and wave energy. As early as 2010, Portugal will obtain 45 per cent of its electricity from these renewable energy sources.

Question: How can Europe conciliate the need to be competitive with the need to address global warming?

Francisco Nunes Correia: Europe is already world leader on renewable energies. That is likely to continue or even increase as Europe’s technology base develops new and cleaner energy technologies which will, in turn, contribute to reducing global warming gases. This is a third industrial revolution we are talking about. I have no doubt that it’s right around the corner and that Europe will be at the forefront.

Question: What steps do you plan to take to defend marine biodiversity?

Francisco Nunes Correia: Portugal has more than 50 per cent of the EU’s waters under its jurisdiction. The conservation of marine biodiversity and coastal ecosystems is one of our main concerns – we believe that this is extremely important to develop sustainable fishing strategies. We are creating a network of marine protected areas covering our most sensitive ecosystems. Cleaner coastal waters is another of our focus areas, as they have an important impact on our economies. Our vision for the future of EU seas includes the reversal of some trends that affect our rivers and estuaries, and to continue to develop our coastal management policies.

Question: What are the main environmental issues in Portugal and how are you addressing them?

Francisco Nunes Correia: Portugal is a rather peculiar country in terms of environmental protection. On the one hand, it is still facing first generation challenges such as basic water and sanitation infrastructure. At the same time, Portugal is already faced with second generation challenges such as emissions trading and prevention and integrated pollution control. This implies more economic and financial instruments as well as a more sophisticated production base. The next five to ten years will be key to ensuring Portugal is set on a sustainable development path. In particular, we need to further integrate energy and climate policies and, like in the EU, further reduce emissions, increase renewables and strengthen our economic and innovation base as a result. On vehicles, for instance, the government has recently overhauled the automobile tax by introducing an emissions component into it. It will be one of Europe’s greenest car taxes.

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