UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner will join EU Environment Ministers during their informal Council meeting on 22 July 2015.

Mr Steiner has been asked to provide an introductory speech ahead of a debate between the Ministers on environmental issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals and the post-2015 agenda.

The Executive Director will later that day give a second speech on climate finance, notably drawing on the recent UNEP Inquiry report on designing a sustainable financial system. The subsequent discussion will feed into EU preparations on financing issues for COP 21.

The Environment Council is, together with the European Parliament, responsible for adopting ambitious legislation at EU level and for preparing the bloc’s position at international conferences. Informal Council meetings allow Ministers to discuss key issues without drawing conclusions.

Luxembourg took over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 July and, as such, will chair Council meetings until 1 January 2016.

For more information: alexa.froger@unep.org