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Repairing our ozone layer
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In 1987, delegates from around the world signed the Montreal Protocol designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of a number of substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion. This recent video illustrates the results of the Protocol, which is considered to be one of the most successful international environmental agreements.
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Environmental topics
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Air pollution
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Multimedia
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NATURA 2000: Safeguarding Europe's biodiversity
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Preserving and restoring the biodiversity and ecosystems of different habitats, from the countryside to mountains to the marine environment, is a major objective for the European Union. It is committed to halting the loss of its biodiversity by 2010.
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Environmental topics
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Biodiversity
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Multimedia
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Protecting the tree of life
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Europe is a continent of breathtaking natural beauty and dramatic contrasts. The EU’s 27 Member States stretch from the frozen Arctic Circle in the north to the warm Mediterranean waters in the south. From the wave-lashed Atlantic coast in Ireland to the snow-capped Carpathian mountains in Romania, the EU includes a vast range of natural habitats and a great diversity of flora and fauna.
Our natural heritage includes several thousand types of habitat, 520 species of bird, 10 000 plant species and at least 100 000 species of invertebrate. Yet, in comparison with other regions in the world, these numbers are relatively modest. Europe is the most urbanized and densely populated continent in the world. It is also one of the most polluted. These factors have taken their toll on the natural environment.
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Environmental topics
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Biodiversity
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Multimedia
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Reducing climate impacts from international aviation: Europe leads the way
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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.
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Environmental topics
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Climate change
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Multimedia
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Improving the environment in Europe's cities
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Four out of five of all Europeans live in towns and cities and the European Commission wants to help make urban areas a better place to live.
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Environmental topics
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Urban environment
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Multimedia
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Climate change: the cost of inaction and the cost of adaptation
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Publications
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World share of international tourist arrivals, 2010
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International comparison
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Data and maps
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Maps and graphs
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World share of international tourist arrivals, 2020
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International comparison
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Data and maps
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Maps and graphs
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Projections of international tourist arrivals (million) for 2010 and 2020
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International comparison
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Data and maps
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Maps and graphs
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Travel and tourism GDP as percentage of national GDP
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Data and maps
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Maps and graphs