The Diplomat
The Council of Ministers authorized last Tuesday 17 voluntary contributions to international entities related to the environment and the fight against climate change for an overall amount of 1,011,725 euros.
“These contributions are destined to areas of activity of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO), such as atomic energy, forestry policy, water management, air pollution control, biodiversity protection, access to information and environmental participation or the European network of environmental agencies,” the Government informed.
“This is a second package that complements the one approved last May 18 for 2.5 million euros to support projects related to the fight against climate change, the preservation of biodiversity at the international level, forestry issues and environmental legislation in the European Union.” This new contribution represents almost 20.9% of MITECO’s budget foreseen for these operations in the 2021 fiscal year.
The voluntary contributions authorized by the Government will make it possible to support and participate in various international initiatives, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which will receive the largest contribution, with 500,000 euros.
The remaining amounts will go to forestry policy bodies, such as the European Forest Institute (EFI) and the FAO Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Issues – Silva Mediterranea (FAO – SILVA MEDITERRANEA), with 50. 50,000 each; or on water management, such as River Basin (MENBO), 75,000 euros; the General Secretariat of UNESCO for the implementation of activities of the Conference of Ibero-American Water Directors (CODIA), 55,000 euros; or the Mediterranean Water Information System, 30,000 euros.
In addition, several contributions will go to initiatives for the protection of the atmosphere, such as the Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, the Montreal Protocol Trust Fund, the Network of European Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA Network) or the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for the Study on Public Acceptance of Climate Change Mitigation Policies.
