Protection of the environment at the Council of Europe

Since 1965, the European Diploma for Protected Areas honours outstanding efforts in preserving the continent’s natural landscapes. It is a tribute to the ecosystems that shape Europe’s identity, as well as a recognition of the exemplary way in which they are managed. In these protected areas, vegetation pulses with life, biodiversity is protected, and harmony between nature and humankind is carefully fostered. By protecting these places, we also safeguard Europe's core values: democracy, human rights and the respect for nature as a legacy for future generations. Let’s celebrate the 60th anniversary of the European Diploma for Protected Areas. United around our values, with nature at heart. #BeatingStrong. Find out more 👉 https://lnkd.in/eYGNgZVC #NaturalHeartOfEurope

🌊🐢 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀: 𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗲 🌊🐢 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲 (𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮) 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? These iconic marine creatures depend on safe nesting beaches to survive—and those beaches are increasingly under threat. 🏖️ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: Turtle nesting sites are vital for the survival of marine turtle populations. Without safe, undisturbed areas for egg-laying, entire generations are at risk. 🗓️ From 17 to 20 June 2025, two 𝗼𝗻-𝘁𝗵𝗲-𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗹𝘀 (OSAs) were carried out at key nesting sites in Greece: • 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝘆 (Zakynthos Island) • 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗞𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮s (Peloponnesus peninsula) These visits are part of ongoing Bern Convention case files concerning the conservation of Caretta caretta, a species threatened by tourism, pollution, fishing, and habitat degradation. 🤝 Co-organised by Greek national, regional and local authorities, with the participation of environmental NGOs  𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗧, 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻, 𝗪𝗪𝗙 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘀, and the 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, the OSAs focused on assessing the state of conservation at these critical sites and monitoring how effectively protection measures are being implemented. Field visits and stakeholder meetings took place with officials from the Greek Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA), the body managing protected areas. 📊 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀: • In 2023, ~2,050 nests were recorded in Laganas Bay • In 2024, ~6,700 nests in Thines Kiparissias • Southern Kyparissia Bay hosts 𝟰𝟮.𝟮% 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟯𝟯.𝟮% 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨 💬 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁? Independent expert 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗳𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼 led the evaluation. His findings will be presented at the 𝟰𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝟴–𝟭𝟮 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱) which is expected to adopt a set of Recommendations to help the Greek authorities better protect sea turtles. 🌍 Protecting nature is a shared responsibility. These turtles—and the ecosystems they inhabit—can’t wait. #BernConvention #CarettaCaretta #MarineConservation #Biodiversity #Greece #SustainableFuture #OceanProtection #WildlifeConservation https://lnkd.in/e8B2EkBH WWF Greece MEDASSET ARCHELON

Tonight, the European family came closer together. As President Zelenskyy said: “This tribunal gives us a real chance to bring justice for the crime of aggression.” Let’s rally behind it. No reward for aggression. Vive l’Ukraine libre. Vive l’Europe. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Conseil de l'Europe

A new chapter in international justice: the Council of Europe and Ukraine have signed an Agreement on establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.   The Special Tribunal will be set up within the framework of the Council of Europe with the mandate to prosecute senior leaders for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. This crime refers to unlawful use of armed force against another state.   Established through the Council of Europe, it will follow international legal standards and ensure fair, independent trials.   #StandWithUkraine 

⛏️ Sustainable Mining: Balancing Human Rights, Environmental Standards, and Business Growth 📍 Yerevan, Armenia | 18 June 2025 As the world debates the role of mining in the 🌱 energy transition, the Council of Europe organised an event in Yerevan, Armenia, on human rights and environmental protection in mining operations. 💬 Hosted in partnership with Grant Thornton Armenia and the IRMA Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), the discussion gathered insights from experts across business, government, international organisations, and diplomatic missions. 🔍 Key takeaways included: 🧑🤝🧑 Meaningful local community and stakeholder involvement in decisions 🌍 Responsible mining not only fuels the energy transition—it upholds societal values. 📊 Transparency and public accountability in mining More about: 🔗 The event: https://go.coe.int/yyxc5 🔗 the Council of Europe’s project on sustainable and responsible business practices: https://lnkd.in/gwF8uvNG Gurgen Hakobyan Grant Thornton International Ltd  Pierre Petit-De Pasquale Natalia Kobylarz    Arevik Anapiosyan Anaïs Tobalagba, PhD Beyond Human Rights Compliance Stéphane Brabant Olga Azatyan, UN Women   Anna Saghabalyan, Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine / ZCMC Tigran Karapetyan Elena Yurkina #ResponsibleMining #Sustainability #BusinessAndHumanRights #EnergyTransition #Transparency #Armenia

🌍 Environmental and climate disruptions have a direct impact on persons deprived of their liberty. When heatwaves and cold snaps set in, detention conditions could quickly become unbearable and even degrading.   During its visits, the CPT is increasingly focused on assessing the effects of the environmental and climate crisis to ensure decent living conditions for those deprived of liberty.   In this respect, when exercising its mandate, the CPT pays close attention to the evolving case-law of the European Court of Human Rights on environmental issues, particularly when those affect the exercise of the rights guaranteed under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. #WorldEnvironmentDay2025 #HealthyEnvironmentForAll #CoE_CPT Human Rights and the Rule of Law at the Council of Europe Protection of the environment at the Council of Europe

🗓️ 5 juin | Journée mondiale de l’environnement 🌿 La France 🇫🇷 réitère son engagement à préserver les écosystèmes et la biodiversité 🌍 Au Conseil de l'Europe, elle soutient activement la Convention de Berne et la nouvelle Convention sur la protection de l’environnement par le droit pénal 🇪🇺

🌍 On #WorldEnvironmentDay, the Council of Europe reaffirms: there are no human rights without a healthy environment!     The Council of Europe is built on the foundation of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. But for these rights to be truly enjoyed, people must live in a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Environmental protection is deeply embedded in the Council of Europe’s work:   🌿 The Bern Convention safeguards Europe’s natural heritage   🏞️ The Landscape Convention promotes sustainable land management and planning   ⚠️ The EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement strengthens resilience to and awareness of natural and technological disasters   The European Court of Human Rights has already ruled on hundreds of cases where environmental harm affected fundamental rights — reinforcing the message that environmental protection is human rights protection.     📜 Our most recent milestone is the adoption of the Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law — targeting illegal pollution, habitat destruction, wildlife trafficking, unlawful mining, and ensuring protection for whistleblowers who expose environmental crime.     🌱 The Council of Europe has also adopted a new Environment Strategy, making environmental protection a transversal priority across all areas — from education and children’s rights to youth, minority rights, and beyond. Its 5 strategic objectives aim to improve the protection of human rights in the face of environmental challenges. 🦉 Learn more 👉: https://lnkd.in/evKF-Yyv Rafael Benitez Gianluca Silvestrini Elda Moreno Mikael POUTIERS Krzysztof Zyman Eva Pastrana Marta Mędlińska Irina Spoiala

🌍 Social Rights, Social Justice, and the Environment: A Common Cause 🌱 The environment is not just a matter of nature – it’s a matter of justice. The Council of Europe’s new Strategy for the Environment (2024–2030) sends a clear message: we cannot address environmental challenges without also tackling inequality, poverty, and human rights. Environmental degradation disproportionately affects the most vulnerable – from access to clean air and water, to housing and health. 🟢 A healthy environment is a precondition for the enjoyment of social rights. 🔵 Social justice must include environmental justice – ensuring that no community bears an unfair share of environmental harm, and that future generations inherit a livable planet. With this Strategy, the Council of Europe is taking a decisive step to integrate human rights, rule of law, and democracy into environmental governance – reaffirming that protecting people and protecting the planet go hand in hand. Let’s work together to build fairer, greener, and more resilient societies. 🌱⚖️ Protection of the environment at the Council of Europe Social Rights at the Council of Europe #SocialJustice #EnvironmentalRights #CouncilOfEurope #HumanRights #Sustainability #GreenTransition #EnvironmentalJustice #RuleOfLaw #SocialRights #ClimateAction #EuropeanSocialCharter

📢 Just published: A new factsheet on Environmental Challenges and National Minorities from the Advisory Committee on the #FCNM 🌍 The environmental crisis affects everyone — but not equally. National minorities face unique challenges. Environmental protection is transversal — it affects health, livelihoods and cultural heritage. Consult the factsheet for more info: https://go.coe.int/mR9qW 👈