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1.1 European environmental policy is aimed at living well, within the limits of the planet
1.2 Over the past 40 years, environmental policies in Europe have had notable success
1.3 Our understanding of the systemic nature of many environmental challenges has evolved
1.4 Environmental policy ambitions address the short, medium and long term
1.5 SOER 2015 provides an assessment of the state and outlook for the environment in Europe
2.1 Many of today's environmental challenges have a systemic character
2.2 Global megatrends affect the prospects for the European environment
2.3 European consumption and production patterns impact both the European and global environment
2.4 Human activities affect vital ecosystem dynamics at multiple scales
2.5 Excessive use of natural resources jeopardises humanity's safe operating space
3.1 Natural capital underpins the economy, society and human well-being
3.2 European policy aims to protect, conserve and enhance natural capital
3.3 Biodiversity decline and ecosystem degradation reduce resilience
3.4 Land-use change and intensification threaten soil ecosystem services and drive biodiversity loss
3.5 Europe is far from meeting water policy objectives and having healthy aquatic ecosystems
3.6 Water quality has improved but the nutrient load of water bodies remains a problem
3.9 The impacts of climate change on ecosystems and society call for adaptation measures
4.1 Increased resource efficiency is essential for continued socio-economic progress
4.2 Resource efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reductions are strategic policy priorities
4.3 Despite more efficient material use, European consumption remains very resource intensive
4.4 Waste management is improving but Europe remains far from a circular economy
4.5 The transition to a low-carbon society requires greater greenhouse gas emission cuts
4.6 Reducing fossil fuel dependence would cut harmful emissions and boost energy security
4.7 Increasing transport demand affects the environment and human health
4.8 Industrial pollutant emissions have declined but still cause considerable damage each year
4.9 Reducing water stress requires enhanced efficiency and water demand management
4.10 Spatial planning strongly influences the benefits that Europeans derive from land resources
4.11 An integrated perspective on production-consumption systems is needed
5.1 Human well-being critically depends on a healthy environment
5.2 European policy takes a broader perspective on the environment, human health and well-being
5.3 Environmental, demographic and lifestyle changes contribute to major health challenges
5.5 Ambient air quality has improved, but many citizens are still exposed to dangerous pollutants
5.6 Exposure to noise is a major health concern in urban areas
5.7 Urban systems are relatively resource efficient, but also create multiple exposure patterns
5.8 Health impacts of climate change require adaptation at different scales
5.9 Risk management needs to be adapted to emerging environment and health issues
6.1 Progress towards 2020 targets is mixed, and the 2050 visions and goals will require new efforts
6.3 Securing humanity's basic resource needs requires integrated, coherent management approaches
6.4 Globalised production-consumption systems pose major policy challenges
7.1 Living well within the limits of the planet requires a transition to a green economy
7.2 Recalibrating available policy approaches can help Europe meet its 2050 vision
7.3 Innovations in governance can help harvest the links between policy approaches
7.4 Today's investments are essential for effecting long-term transitions
7.5 Expanding the knowledge base is a prerequisite for managing long-term transitions
7.6 From visions and ambitions to credible and feasible transition pathways
Figure 1.1 Long-term transition/intermediate targets related to environmental policy
Figure 1.2 Structure of SOER 2015
Figure 2.1 Three systemic characteristics of environmental challenges
Figure 2.2 Global megatrends analysed in SOER 2015
Figure 2.5 Categories of planetary boundaries
Figure 3.1 Conceptual framework for EU-wide ecosystem assessments
Figure 4.1 Relative and absolute decoupling
Figure 4.2 EU-27 domestic material consumption and raw material consumption, 2000–2012
Figure 4.3 Municipal waste recycling rates in European countries, 2004 and 2012
Figure 4.4 Greenhouse gas emission trends (1990–2012), projections to 2030 and targets to 2050
Figure 4.5 Gross inland energy consumption by fuel (EU-28, Iceland, Norway and Turkey), 1990–2012
Figure 4.6 Growth in modal transport demand (km) and GDP in EU-28
Figure 4.7 Fuel efficiency and fuel consumption in private cars, 1990–2011
Figure 4.10 Urbanisation patterns across Europe
Figure 5.1 Quality of coastal (top) and inland (bottom) bathing water in Europe, 1990–2013
Figure 5.4 Shortening the time lapse before mass adoption of new technologies
Figure 6.2 The green economy as an integrating framework for policies relating to material use
Figure 7.1 Policy approaches for a long-term transition
Map 2.1 Transnational land acquisitions, 2005–2009
Map 3.1 Synthesis map of urban land take and agricultural challenges
Map 3.5 Regional seas surrounding Europe and the sustainability challenges they face
Map 3.6 Key observed and projected impacts from climate change for the main regions in Europe
Map 5.1 Proportion of urban population aged 65 years and more
Map 5.2 Share of green urban areas in EU-27 core cities
Table ES.1 An indicative summary of environmental trends
Table 1.1 Evolution of environmental challenges
Table 1.2 Legend used in the 'trends and outlook' summary assessment in each section
Table 3.1 Examples of EU policies relating to Objective 1 of the 7th Environment Action Programme
Table 4.1 Examples of EU policies relating to Objective 2 of the 7th Environment Action Programme
Table 5.1 Examples of EU policies relating to Objective 3 of the 7th Environment Action Programme
The EEA's report SOER 2015 gives a comprehensive assessment of the European environment's state, trends and prospects, in a global context. The EEA's task is to provide timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information on Europe's environment.
For more information, see www.eea.europa.eu/soer or scan the QR code.
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