Environment Ministers from OECD and key partner countries met in Paris on 28-29 September 2016 and discussed the environmental challenges facing the world and how to promote effective and efficient policy responses. The meeting took place at a propitious time with important global agreements having been reached in 2015 on climate change, the Sustainable Development Goals, and financing for development.

Under the guidance of the Chair, Minister Nick Smith (New Zealand) and the Vice-Chairs, Minister Irena Majcen (Slovenia) and Vice-Minister Marcelo Mena Carrasco (Chile), the meeting took place at a propitious time with important global agreements having been reached in 2015 on climate change, the Sustainable Development Goals, and financing for development.

Implementation of these major agreements is now paramount on international, regional and national policy agendas, and the role of the OECD as a platform for supporting strong policy action and sharing experiences is now more important than ever.

The meeting addressed a range of issues in plenary sessions and in a number of breakout groups. The issues of climate change and circular economy were discussed in plenary at the start and end of the meeting, with breakout sessions on air pollution from transport, mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors, effective management of marine protected areas, nitrogen, financing investment in water security, and urban water pollution.

CHAIR'S SUMMARY and STATEMENTS

Download the Chair's Summary (PDF)

 

• What's new
• What's new
• What's new
• United States - Report on Advancing Resource Efficiency in the Supply Chain

 

OFFICIAL FAMILY PHOTO

View the Flickr Album - Who's Who

 

AGENDA AND ISSUES PAPER

Download the Agenda and Issues Paper (PDF)

 

Speakers' presentations

• Opening remarks by Angel Gurría, Secretary-General, OECD

Session I: Climate change - Key challenges moving forward

• Drew Shindell, Chair of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Scientific Advisory Panel, Professor of Climate Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, USA
• Roger Pulwarty, IPPC Convening Lead Author on Adaptation Planning and Implementation, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

 

Breakout sessions

Air pollution from transport

• Olaf Merk, Project Manager, Ports and Shipping, International Transport Forum, France
• Michelle Harding, Senior Economist, OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration
  
  

Biodiversity: Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Sectors

• Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, Vice-President for Conservation Policy, Conservation International, Former Minister of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica
  
  

Nitrogen

• Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany
• Penny Johnes, Professor of Biogeochemistry, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, UK
  
  

Water

• Herman Borst, Director of Staff, Delta Programme Commissioner, The Netherlands

Session II: Resource efficiency and the transition towards the circular economy

• Hans Stegeman, Chief Economist, Rabobank, The Netherlands
• Michael Warhurst, Executive Director, CHEM Trust, UK
  
  

Working lunch: Ministers dialogue with business representatives on the circular economy

• Andrew Clifton, Sustainability Manager, Engineering and Design, Rolls Royce, UK
• Pia Heidenmark Cook, Head of Sustainability, Retail & Expansion, IKEA Group, Sweden
• Henrik Sundström, Vice President, Group Sustainability Affairs, Electrolux, Sweden
• Christian Hagelüken, Director, EU Government Affairs, Umicore, Germany

 

further reading

• Past OECD Environment Meetings at Ministerial Level
• Environment Policy Committee (EPOC)
• OECD Secretary-General's Report to Ministers 2016