Europe Will Miss 2010 Biodiversity Protection Target

ATHENS, Greece, April 28, 2009 (ENS) - A European Commission conference on biodiversity in Athens today acknowledged that the European target of halting the loss of biodiversity across the continent by 2010 will not be met.

While some progress has been made in halting the decline of plant and animal species, the original target is unlikely to be met, concluded the high-level gathering that included Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Barroso told the delegates that the European Commission has been at the forefront of the battle against climate change, and now must put urgent effort into the related issue of biodiversity protection.

"The success of our climate change policy will also be measured by the success of our efforts in stopping the loss of biodiversity," Barroso said. "These issues – like so many of the challenges that we face – are irrevocably interrelated, just as the link with energy and energy security has helped to develop our understanding of the importance of climate change."

Sursa.