Publications

Hazardous substances in Europe's fresh and marine waters — An overview

Adobe InDesign CS5 (7.0) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:18:57 +0200

Chemicals are an essential part of our daily lives and are used to produce consumer goods, to protect or restore our health and to boost food production, to name but a few examples. Some chemicals, however, are hazardous, raising concerns for the environment and human health. Hazardous substances are emitted to fresh and marine waters via a number of pathways and can have detrimental effects on aquatic biota. Humans can be exposed to hazardous substances in water through the ingestion of contaminated drinking water and the consumption of contaminated freshwater fish and seafood. A wide range of legislation now exists in Europe to address the release of hazardous substances to the environment, including water. New challenges exist, however, including the issues of chemical mixtures and emerging pollutants.

Marine and coastal environment — SOER 2010 thematic assessment

EEA (European Environment Agency) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:40:00 +0100

European marine regions include the north-east Atlantic and Arctic oceans, and the Mediterranean, Black and Baltic seas. Human activities — such as fishing, aquaculture and agriculture — and climate change cause large and severe impacts on Europe's coastal and marine ecosystems. The EU objective of halting biodiversity loss by 2010 has not been met in either the coastal or the marine environment. Recognising the need for an integrated ecosystem-based approach to reduce pressures, the EU Integrated Maritime Policy allows for the development of sea-related activities in a sustainable manner. Its environmental pillar, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, aims to deliver 'good environmental status' of the marine environment by 2020, and the Common Fisheries Policy will be reformed in 2012 with the aim of achieving sustainable fisheries. Complementary policy efforts include the EU Water Framework Directive and other freshwater legislation, and the Habitats and Birds Directives.

10 messages for 2010 - Coastal ecosystems

EEA (European Environment Agency) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:40:54 +0200

Key messages: 1) As an interface between land and sea, European coastlines provide vital resources for wildlife, but also for the economy and human health and well-being. 2) Multiple pressures, including habitat loss and degradation, pollution, climate change and overexploitation of fish stocks, affect coastal ecosystems. 3) Coastal habitat types and species of Community interest are at risk in Europe; two thirds of coastal habitat types and more than half of coastal species have an unfavourable conservation status. 4) Integrated and ecosystem-based approaches provide the foundation for sustainable coastal management and development, supporting socio-economic development, biodiversity and ecosystem services. Coordinated action at the global, regional and local levels will be key to sustainable management of coastal ecosystems.

Ecosystem accounting and the cost of biodiversity losses — the case of coastal Mediterranean wetlands

EEA (European Environment Agency) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:40:30 +0200

This report focuses on ways we can use land and ecosystem accounting techniques to describe and monitor the consequences of biodiversity loss in the coastal wetlands of the Mediterranean. These ecosystems are characterised by the close coupling of economic, social and ecological processes, and any accounting system has to represent how these key elements are linked and change over time. This report discusses the importance of estimating the ecological and social costs of maintaining these systems, and the problems surrounding providing monetary estimates of the services associated with wetlands. It also shows how individual wetland socio-ecological systems (SES) can be defined and mapped using the remotely sensed land cover information from Corine Land Cover.

10 messages for 2010 — marine ecosystems

EEA (European Environment Agency) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Marine ecosystems provide key services both globally and locally, which are essential for maintaining life on our planet. However, marine biodiversity faces an unprecedented range of pressures. In recent years climate change has caused changes in species distribution and presents new challenges for marine biodiversity as oceans become more acidic.

Quality of bathing water — 2008 bathing season

EEA (European Environment Agency) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0200

EEA Signals 2009 - Key environmental issues facing Europe

Alin Voinea — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Signals is published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) at the start of each year and provides snapshot stories on issues of interest both to the environmental policy debate and the wider public for the upcoming year. The eight stories addressed are not exhaustive but have been selected on the basis of their relevance to the current environmental policy debate in Europe. They address priority issues of climate change, nature and biodiversity, the use of natural resources and health.

Europe's environment — The fourth assessment

EEA (European Environment Agency) — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 10:00:00 +0200

Europe's environment — The fourth assessment. Executive summary

EEA (European Environment Agency) — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 09:59:00 +0200

The changing faces of Europe's coastal areas

EEA (European Environment Agency) — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 11:00:00 +0200

This report provides information on the state of the environment in the coastal areas of Europe, and provides evidence of the need for a more integrated, long-term approach. Since 1995, concern about the state of Europe's coastline has led to a number of EU initiatives, which build on the concept of integrated coastal zone management (ICZM). ICZM attempts to balance the needs of development with protection of the very resources that sustain coastal economies. It also takes into account the public's concern about the deteriorating environmental, socio-economic and cultural state of the European coastline.

EEA Briefing 3/2006 - The continuous degradation of Europe's coasts threatens European living standards

EEA (European Environment Agency) — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 11:00:00 +0200

Priority issues in the Mediterranean environment (revised version)

EEA (European Environment Agency) — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 13:00:00 +0100

Following the principles of the European Thematic Strategy on the Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment, the collective interest of EEA and UNEP/MAP has been developed towards a product focusing on priority pollution zones in the Mediterranean Sea and addressing emerging issues. All these issues come under the prism of an ecosystem approach. The core of this report derives from the latest (2003–2004) country National Diagnostic Analyses reports (NDA).

Source apportionment of nitrogen and phosphorus inputs into the aquatic environment

EEA (European Environment Agency) — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 00:00:00 +0200

The European environment - State and outlook 2005

EEA (European Environment Agency) — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 09:00:00 +0100

Priority issues in the Mediterranean environment - Final draft

EEA (European Environment Agency) — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 10:00:00 +0100