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Sharing nature's riches: Of the 8.2 billion tonnes of materials consumed in EU-27 Member States in 2007, minerals accounted for 52 %, fossil fuels for 23 %, biomass for 21 % and metals for 4 % (SOER 2010)
Located in Signals — every breath we take › Signals 2011 › Articles
Consuming unsustainably: Key message: A major reason why consumption negatively affects the environment and causes over-use of resources is because the costs to society of environmental and resource degradation are not fully reflected in the prices of goods and services. Many goods are cheap even though they harm the environment, ecosystems or human health. (SOER 2010)
Located in Signals — every breath we take › Signals 2011 › Articles
Eyewitness: the boy Chance: Bisie is the biggest mine in the area. It is located approximately 90 kilometres inside dense forest and reaches 100 metres underground. The mines are often little more than a hole in the ground. Dozens of men and boys crowd each mine and conditions are atrocious.
Located in Signals — every breath we take › Signals 2011 › Articles
Food consumption patterns: (Transcription of audio on video) Industrialised countries have made significant improvements to their energy and resource efficiency, but some of the gain has been offset by more widespread consumption. Some of this is to do with our food production. It takes approximately 1,000 litres of water to produce 1 kg of wheat, over two and a half times that to produce 1 kg of eggs, and a massive 13 and a half times that amount of water to produce 1 kg of beef. If the entire global population were to adopt a western-style diet, about 75% more water would be needed for food production. Source: SOER 2005
Located in Environmental topics › Household consumption › Multimedia
Europe needs to use water more efficiently: Europe needs to redouble efforts in using water more efficiently to avoid undermining its economy, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). Inefficient water use impacts hard on the resources needed by ecosystems and people, both vital assets for European productivity and security.
Located in Press room › News
EU exporting more waste, including hazardous waste: Waste is increasingly moving across EU borders, for recovery or disposal. This is true for waste shipments between EU countries, and also transfers of waste outside the EU, according to a new assessment from the European Environment Agency (EEA).
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Part 3. Reflections: Located in Publications › Environmental indicator report 2012 › Environmental indicator report 2012 - Ecosystem resilience and resource efficiency in a green economy in Europe
Rio 2012 is an opportunity to move towards a green economy: In less than two months, world leaders will gather in Rio de Janeiro for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. It is 20 years since the last Rio conference, and Rio 2012 is an opportunity to assess the progress made toward sustainable development since 1992 and begin building a Green Economy.
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Water: how can we account for our most vital resource?: The world is entering a period of growing water scarcity: by 2030, global demand for fresh water could outstrip supply by more than 40 % if water is used in the same way that it is today. These stark figures are the background to a new report from the International Resource Panel, a group of natural resources experts hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme.
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Which steps will bring us forward on the road to a Green economy?: Concepts such as Green Economy, Resource efficiency and Sustainable Consumption and Production are currently discussed as pathways to reduce environmental pressures in Europe and beyond. The European Environment Agency has interviewed some selected key stakeholders - from government, business, non-governmental organisations and academia - and asked them which steps will bring us forward on the road to a Green economy.
Located in Environmental topics › Green economy › Multimedia