The Environmental Atlas

COM(2011) 808 final: Horizon 2020 - The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation
Located in Environmental policy document catalogue
Sustainable cooling helps fight global warming: In Europe, summer heat waves are becoming harder to bear. The demand for air conditioning is on the rise, especially in office buildings. Yet buildings alone represent 40% of the EU's energy consumption, and air conditioning accounts for a significant part of it. In addition, air conditioning produces greenhouse gas emissions, aggravating global warming and putting at risk European climate protection commitments. The solution: reduce the energy requirements of existing air conditioning systems and change the way buildings are designed and used to achieve sustainable summer comfort without active cooling.
Located in Environmental topics › Energy › Multimedia
Reducing climate impacts from international aviation: Europe leads the way: The European Commission is proposing legislation to bring the aviation sector into the European Union's pioneering emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) in order to control the rapid growth in CO2 emissions from air travel. Until now airlines have not been subject to the constraints on energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions that other businesses have to live with. Emissions from domestic flights are covered by the Kyoto Protocol's emission targets for developed countries, but international aviation - which makes up the vast majority of flights - is not. In addition, jet fuel for international flights has historically been exempted from taxation. Hence the need for policy action.
Located in Environmental topics › Climate change › Multimedia
Curbing CO2 emissions from road transport: Road transport generates about one fifth of the EU's CO2 emissions, with passenger cars responsible for around 12%. This makes it the second most important source of greenhouse gases. Although there have been significant improvements over recent years in vehicle technology, these have not been enough to neutralise the effect of increases in traffic and car size.
Located in Environmental topics › Transport › Multimedia
Environmental tax reform in Europe: opportunities for eco-innovation: Environmental policy instruments are frequently characterised as obstacles to economic activity but environmental taxes can, in fact, be the opposite — serving as catalysts for the creativity that underpins thriving economies.
Located in Publications
Business and environment: Eco-technologies: Green innovation for sustainable development. The European Union’s environmental technologies industry is a promising industrial sector with a vast potential for growth. At present it employs more than 2 million people across the Union and has a market value of roughly €200 billion. The EU is a leading supplier of environmental technologies in the world, representing about one-third of the global market for these technologies. It is for their environmental benefits but also for their contribution to economic growth that the European Commission is actively promoting the development and the uptake of environmental technologies.
Located in Environmental topics › Green economy › Multimedia
Accelerating technological change: racing into the unknown: The breakneck pace of technological change brings risks and opportunities, not least for developed regions like Europe. These include in particular the emerging cluster of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and information and communication technology. Innovations offer immense opportunities for the environment but can also cause enormous problems if risks are not regulated adequately.
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › … › SOER 2010 — assessment of global megatrends › Key facts
Earnings, jobs and innovation: the role of recycling in a green economy: This short report explains the role of recycling in the green economy and examines the evidence of its contribution in Europe, focusing primarily on the economic benefits that recycling offers.
Located in Publications
Designing the future: Located in Signals — every breath we take › Signals 2011 › Eyewitness stories
Transport and environment: facing a dilemma - TERM 2005: Indicators tracking transport and environment in the European Union
Located in Publications