News
Climate
Sahel
New EU Forest Strategy
Operation Barkhane change of strategy
The Forest Strategy foresees the planting of 3bn trees accross Europe by 2030 photo: ©Panumas - stock.adobe.com
(Ed/nc) On 16th July, the European Commission adopted the new EU Forest Strategy for 2030, which contributes to the “Fit for 55” package of measures aimed at achieving greenhouse gas emission reductions of at least 55% by 2030 and climate neutrality in 2050 in the EU. In the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss, forests are essential as they help to reduce the impacts of climate change, for example by cooling down cities, protecting from heavy flooding, and reducing the impact of drought. Europe’s forests suffer from many different pressures, including climate change. The EU Forest Strategy for 2030 promotes the most climate and biodiversity friendly forest management practices, encourages resource efficient wood use, and announces a legal proposal to step up forest monitoring, reporting and data collection in the EU. The strategy is accompanied by a roadmap for planting 3bn additional trees across Europe by 2030. → See also our documentation on the Green Deal, p.17 Web Forest Strategy: https://bit.ly/2UxrG5F Web 3bn trees: https://bit.ly/2UYtnJd
(Ed/hb, Paris) In mid-June 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the French military engagement in the Sahel would be reduced. The reasons are two large losses (50 soldiers) and nearly €1bn a year without visible results in combating terrorism in the Sahel region. One month later, at the end of a virtual G5 Sahel meeting, Macron announced more details: France will reduce the number of soldiers engaged in Barkhan operations from 5,100 to less than 3,000 by closing three bases in the north (Kidal, Tassalit and Timbuktu) at the beginning of 2022. This goes hand in hand with a change of strategy from accompanying local forces to strongly engage directly against terrorists. The parallel EU engagement “Tabuka” led by France (500 personnel) with contingents from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, and Sweden at the Menaka base in Mali will continue focussing on the training of local special forces. Web https://bit.ly/36K9Te1
NATO
Space Pitch Day winner
Floods
Brussels ceremony for flood victims
photo: ©European Union, 2021 / François Lenoir
(Ed/nc) On 20th July, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, together with 27 EU ambassadors, held a minute of silence for the victims of the floods that took place in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands.
(Ed/nc) On 17th June, the NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Agency hosted a NATO Space Pitch Day in partnership with the NATO Space Centre, located in NATO’s Allied Air Command. At the event, six teams pitched their proposals aimed at improving space situational awareness. The winner, chosen by a selection board, is the French company Safran Data Systems. The winner will have the opportunity to interact closely with the NATO space operational community, in order to provide further demonstrations and to increase the common understanding of requirements and capabilities.
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