The environment ministers will discuss and adopt conclusions on the EU position ahead of the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen when they meet in Luxembourg on 21 October. Other items on the agenda are an EU strategy for safer and more environmentally friendly scrapping of ships and conclusions on an eco-efficient economy. Sweden’s Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren chairs the meeting

EU position ahead of Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen
The Council is expected to adopt conclusions on the EU position ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen on 7–18 December. At the conference a new global climate agreement will be concluded for the years following 2012. The ministers are expected to discuss the following issues at the Council meeting:

• Possible long-term emissions targets for the EU to 2050
• Possible targets for emissions reductions within the sea transport and aviation sectors
• Management of emissions allowance surpluses for the period 2008–2012 (AAU)
• Accounting rules for emissions in connection with forestry and land use
• Development of the sectoral mechanism (ETS) and reform of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
• Protection of forests in developing countries

The conclusions will be passed on to the meeting of the European Council on 29–30 October.

Towards an eco-efficient economy
As a step in the discussion on the continuation of the EU’s Lisbon Strategy for sustainable growth and employment after 2010, the ministers will adopt conclusions on an eco-efficient economy. The concept "an eco-efficient economy" will bring together industrial policy and the challenges of climate change and energy. The conclusions stress that the economic crisis should be seen as an opportunity to convert to an eco-efficient economy. An eco-efficient economy should be an important part of the future Lisbon Strategy, according to the Council in its conclusions. The Council also underlines the importance of breaking the link between growth and environmental damage. In addition, the link between the Lisbon Strategy and the EU's strategy for sustainable development is emphasised. The conclusions will be passed on to the meeting of the European Council on 29–30 October.

EU strategy for safer and more environmentally friendly scrapping of ships
The ministers will adopt conclusions on a communication from the Commission on an EU strategy for ship dismantling. The aim of the EU strategy is to ensure that the dismantling of ships that have a connection with the EU is only carried out at safe and environmentally friendly sites. The background to the strategy is that many ships from the western world are today scrapped in locations in the world that are unsuitable from a work environment perspective. In addition, waste that is harmful to health and to the environment is not handled appropriately. The aim of the Commission’s communication is to improve supervision of the current regulatory framework for cross-border transportation of dangerous waste. 

Waste from electrical and electronic products
The Council will hold a ‘policy debate’ on the revision of two directives that concern waste from electrical and electronic products. The purpose of the debate is to give guidance ahead of the continued negotiations. The first directive, the WEEE Directive, deals with the prevention and handling of waste from electrical and electronic equipment. Electrical and electronic equipment can contain environmentally harmful elements such as quicksilver, lead and cadmium. The second directive, the RoHS Directive, aims to eliminate waste comprised of or containing electrical and electronic products.