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You are here: Home / The European environment – state and outlook 2010 / Synthesis / The European environment – state and outlook 2010: Synthesis

The European environment – state and outlook 2010: Synthesis

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State of the environment report No 1/2010
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The SOER 2010 Synthesis provides an overview of the European environment's state, trends and prospects, integrating the main findings of SOER 2010.

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  • EEA (European Environment Agency)
  • Published: Nov 29, 2010

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Figures used

Development of Ecological Footprint and Available Biocapacity per capita in EEA Member Countries Development of Ecological Footprint and Available Biocapacity per capita in EEA Member Countries The ecological footprint is a measure of the area needed to support a population's lifestyle. This includes the consumption of food, fuel, wood, and fibres. Pollution, such as carbon dioxide emissions, is also counted as part of the footprint. Biocapacity measures how biologically productive land is. It is measured in 'global hectares': a hectare with the world average biocapacity. Biologically productive land includes cropland, pasture, forests and fisheries
Water exploitation index (WEI) — in late 1980s/early 1990s (WEI‑90) compared to latest years available (1998 to 2007) Water exploitation index (WEI) — in late 1980s/early 1990s (WEI‑90) compared to latest years available (1998 to 2007) WEI: annual total water abstraction as a percentage of available long-term freshwater resources.
Greenhouse gas emissions in the EU-27 by sector in 2008, and changes between 1990 and 2008 Greenhouse gas emissions in the EU-27 by sector in 2008, and changes between 1990 and 2008 The figures shows the total greenhouse (GHG) emissions in the EU-27 by sector and the changes between 1990 and 2008
Past and projected global surface temperature change (relative to 1980–1999), based on multi‑model averages for selected IPCC scenarios Past and projected global surface temperature change (relative to 1980–1999), based on multi‑model averages for selected IPCC scenarios The figure shows the past and projected change in global surface temperatures
Domestic GHG emissions in EU-15 and EU-27 between 1990 and 2008 Domestic GHG emissions in EU-15 and EU-27 between 1990 and 2008 The figure shows the trends in EU greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990/base year
Estimated global warming at which the onset of the events could occur versus their impact Estimated global warming at which the onset of the events could occur versus their impact Temperature increase (above 1990 level) at which the various events could occur and an estimate of their impact. The impact scale has subjective qualifications (‘minor’, ‘notable’, ‘major’ and ‘devastating’), which were assigned on the basis of the geographical scale (from ‘regional’ to ‘continental’ and ‘global’) and the character of the damages (‘light’, ‘moderate’, ‘heavy’ or ‘extreme’). The level of scientific understanding, as well as the understanding of possible impacts for most of these events is low. The shapes and sizes of the ovals do not represent uncertainties in impact and temperature onset of eventualities and these uncertainties may be significant.
EU-27 physical trade balance with the rest of the world, 2008 EU-27 physical trade balance with the rest of the world, 2008 This figure shows 2008 total imports and exports of the EU27 with the rest of the world in physical terms. There is a massive asymmetry in trade between EU-27 and the rest of the world in the category of ‘Fuels and mining products’. EU imported in 2008 over six times more resources than it exported.
Trends in the use of material resources in EU-15 and EU-12 and municipal waste generation in EU‑27 compared with GDP and population Trends in the use of material resources in EU-15 and EU-12 and municipal waste generation in EU‑27 compared with GDP and population These graphs show the trends in the use of material resources in EU-15 and EU-12 and municipal waste generation in EU‑27 compared with GDP and population.
Intensity of forestry — net annual increment in growing stock and annual fellings of forest available for wood supply, 1990–2005 Intensity of forestry — net annual increment in growing stock and annual fellings of forest available for wood supply, 1990–2005 This graph shows the intensity of forestry — net annual increment in growing stock and annual fellings of forest available for wood supply — 32 EEA member countries, 1990–2005.
Intensity of forestry — net harvesting rate in 2005 Intensity of forestry — net harvesting rate in 2005 This map shows the intensity of forestry - net harvesting rate in 2005.
Resource use per person, by country, 2000 and 2007 Resource use per person, by country, 2000 and 2007 This graph shows the resource use per person, by country in 2000 and 2007.
Regional variation in wastewater treatment between 1990 and 2007 Regional variation in wastewater treatment between 1990 and 2007 This figure illustrates the percentage population per European region connected to an Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant over the period 1990 to 2007.
Estimated years of life lost (YOLL) in reference year 2005 attributable to long-term PM2.5 exposure Estimated years of life lost (YOLL) in reference year 2005 attributable to long-term PM2.5 exposure Health impact caused by expsore to PM2.5
Percentage of green urban areas in core cities Percentage of green urban areas in core cities This map shows the percentage of green urban areas in core cities
Greenhouse gas emissions as tonnes CO2-equivalent per person by country in 2008 Greenhouse gas emissions as tonnes CO2-equivalent per person by country in 2008 The figure show the greenhouse gas emissions as tonnes CO2 - equivalent per person by country
Potential climatic tipping elements Potential climatic tipping elements Tipping elements are regional-scale features of the climate that could exhibit threshold-type behaviour in response to human-driven climate change – that is, a small amount of climate change at a critical point could trigger an abrupt and/or irreversible shift in the tipping element. The consequences of such shifts for societies and ecosystems are likely to be severe. Question marks indicate systems whose status as tipping elements is particularly uncertain. There are other potential tipping elements that are missing from the map, for example shallow-water coral reefs (Veron et al. 2009) threatened in part by ocean acidification
Growth in the productivity of labour, energy and materials, EU-15 and EU-12 Growth in the productivity of labour, energy and materials, EU-15 and EU-12 This figure shows the development of labour productivity, material productivity, and energy productivity in EU15 and EU12.
Main drought events in Europe, 2000–2009 Main drought events in Europe, 2000–2009 The map shows the main drought events in Europe
Ecological footprint compared with biocapacity (left), and different components of the footprint (right) in EEA countries, 1961–2006 Ecological footprint compared with biocapacity (left), and different components of the footprint (right) in EEA countries, 1961–2006 The ecological footprint is a measure of the area needed to support a population's lifestyle. This includes the consumption of food, fuel, wood, and fibres. Pollution, such as carbon dioxide emissions, is also counted as part of the footprint. Biocapacity measures how biologically productive land is. It is measured in 'global hectares': a hectare with the world average biocapacity. Biologically productive land includes cropland, pasture, forests and fisheries
Conservation status of assessed species in EU-25, by taxonomic group Conservation status of assessed species in EU-25, by taxonomic group -
Conservation status of assessed habitats in EU‑25 Conservation status of assessed habitats in EU‑25 - Annex I to the Habitats Directive includes a wide variety of habitats which are divided into nine groups of related habitat types such as forests and grassland. - Between these groups, dune habitats, grasslands and bogs, mires and fens have the worst conservation status.
Pressure intensity (unit pressure per Euro spent) of household consumption categories, 2005 Pressure intensity (unit pressure per Euro spent) of household consumption categories, 2005 -
Share of green urban areas in European cities, 2006 Share of green urban areas in European cities, 2006 Cities are core cities following the Urban Audit definition (Eurostat, 2010). In most cases the delineation of the core city matches the urban built-up area. But in some cases the delineation also includes substantial areas outside the urban built-up areas (parts of the urban fringe and hinterland); in other cases, it includes only city centres
Reported noise exposure of more than 55 dB Lden in European agglomerations with more than 250 000 inhabitants based on the results of strategic noise mapping Reported noise exposure of more than 55 dB Lden in European agglomerations with more than 250 000 inhabitants based on the results of strategic noise mapping The figure shows the reported long-term (yearly) average exposure to day-evening-night noise of more than 55 dB in EU-27 agglomerations with more than 250 000 inhabitants
Status of fish stocks in International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) fishing regions of Europe Status of fish stocks in International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) fishing regions of Europe The map shows the status of the fish stocks in ICES and GFCM fishing regions of Europe in 2008. Status of fish stocks was assessed in 2009 (ICES) and from 2002-2009 (GFCM), although data refers to 2008 in the ICES regions and 2005 in the GFCM regions.
Net land-cover changes 2000–2006 in Europe — total area change in hectares and percentage change Net land-cover changes 2000–2006 in Europe — total area change in hectares and percentage change -
Life expectancy and healthy life years at birth in EU-27, Iceland and Norway in 2007, by gender Life expectancy and healthy life years at birth in EU-27, Iceland and Norway in 2007, by gender -
Global human appropriation of net primary production Global human appropriation of net primary production This map shows human-appropriated net primary production (HANPP) as a percentage of potential net primary production (NPP)
Growth of GDP per capita in the EU-27, USA, China, India and Japan, 1980 to 2008 Growth of GDP per capita in the EU-27, USA, China, India and Japan, 1980 to 2008 -
Projected shares of global middle-income class consumption, 2000 to 2050 Projected shares of global middle-income class consumption, 2000 to 2050 The figure shows the projected shares of global middle-income class consumption
Number of undernourished in the world; percentage of undernourished in developing countries, 1969 to 2009 Number of undernourished in the world; percentage of undernourished in developing countries, 1969 to 2009 -
Approximate distribution of HNV farmland in EU-27 Approximate distribution of HNV farmland in EU-27 -
Global extraction of natural resources from ecosystems and mines, 1980 to 2005/2007 Global extraction of natural resources from ecosystems and mines, 1980 to 2005/2007 -
Percentage of municipal waste landfilled in EEA countries, 2003 and 2008; and development of municipal waste management in EU-27, 1995 to 2008 Percentage of municipal waste landfilled in EEA countries, 2003 and 2008; and development of municipal waste management in EU-27, 1995 to 2008 -
Key past and projected impacts and effects of climate change for the main biogeographical regions of Europe Key past and projected impacts and effects of climate change for the main biogeographical regions of Europe -
European land cover in 2006, main land-cover categories of Europe European land cover in 2006, main land-cover categories of Europe -
Exceedances of critical loads for eutrophication due to the deposition of nutrient nitrogen in 2000 and 2010 Exceedances of critical loads for eutrophication due to the deposition of nutrient nitrogen in 2000 and 2010 The maps shows the exceedances of critical loads for eutrophication due to the deposition of nutrient N in the 2000 and 2010
Occurrence of major floods in Europe Occurrence of major floods in Europe Occurrence of major floods in Europe (1998–2009)
Percentage of urban population resident in areas where pollutant concentrations are higher than selected limit/target values, EEA member countries, 1997-2008 Percentage of urban population resident in areas where pollutant concentrations are higher than selected limit/target values, EEA member countries, 1997-2008 The rationale for selection of pollutant and corresponding limit/target values for CSI 004 is given in the justification for indicator selection. Only urban and sub-urban background monitoring stations have been included in the calculations. Data for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey are not included due to the geographical coverage of the Urban Audit and/or lack of air quality data.
Share of Renewable Energy to Final Energy Consumption with normalised for hydro, EU27 Share of Renewable Energy to Final Energy Consumption with normalised for hydro, EU27 Share of Renewable Energy to Final Energy Consumption with normalised for hydro, EU27. In 2009 the European Commission adopted a new directive on renewable energy (2009/28/EC). The new Directive on renewable energy sets an ambitious target for the EU-27 of 20% share of energy from renewable sources in final energy consumption by 2020 and a 10% share of renewable energy in the transport sector (in each Member State). The 2008 data update will include revised methodology.
Forest utilisation rate in 2005 (annual increment in growing stock as a percentage of annual felling) for countries in the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) Forest utilisation rate in 2005 (annual increment in growing stock as a percentage of annual felling) for countries in the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) This map shows the forest utilisation rate in 2005 (annual increment in growing stock as a percentage of annual felling) for countries in the MCPFE

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