Highlights

Green fiscal reform can create jobs and stimulate innovation across the EU

Arthur Girling — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:35:00 +0200

Increasing some tax rates and removing subsidies on environmentally harmful products and services can boost economic growth if the revenue generated is then used to relieve the tax burden on employment and investment.

Consumers buying more efficient cars in Europe

Arthur Girling — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:30:00 +0200

The average car sold in the EU in 2012 was 9 % more fuel-efficient than the average three years before, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). Improved technology and an increase in the share of diesel cars are the main reasons behind the fall in average CO2 emissions.

Reducing the € 45 billion health cost of air pollution from lorries

Arthur Girling — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:05:00 +0100

Road charges for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs or lorries) should reflect the varied health effects of traffic pollution in different European countries. This means charges should be much higher in some countries compared to others, according to analysis from the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Fewer summer ozone peaks in 2012, but levels still harmful

Arthur Girling — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:00:00 +0100

Ozone pollution still exceeded target levels in Europe during summer 2012, but the number of exceedances of the alert threshold was lower than in any year since monitoring started in 1997. However, almost all EU Member States failed to keep levels of the pollutant within targets set to protect human health.

Most car manufacturers on track to meet 2012 CO2 targets

Arthur Girling — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:00:00 +0100

In 2011, average CO2 vehicle emissions for most carmakers were below target levels estimated for 2012. This was the situation for 47 carmakers, responsible for 95% of the new cars registered in the EU in 2011, according to the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis.

More than half of EU surface waters below ‘good’ ecological status

Arthur Girling — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:55:00 +0100

Water pollution and physical modifications are still affecting the ecology of many of Europe’s lakes, rivers, transitional water bodies and coastal waters. These problems are likely to prevent the water bodies reaching ‘good’ status by 2015, a target set by the EU’s Water Framework Directive (WFD).

EU greenhouse gases in 2011: more countries on track to meet Kyoto targets, emissions fall 2.5 %

Arthur Girling — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:00:00 +0200

Emissions of greenhouse gases in the European Union (EU) fell on average by 2.5 % from 2010 to 2011, although several countries increased emissions. Almost all European countries are individually on track towards their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol compared to last year, according to two reports published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Measuring biodiversity with indicators – new report describes SEBI approach

Arthur Girling — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:00:00 +0200

The continuing loss of biodiversity – made up of genes, species and ecosystems – is a matter of growing concern in Europe. Yet measuring the extent of the loss and the threat it poses is a huge challenge.

Nitrogen oxide emissions still a major problem in Europe

Arthur Girling — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:30:00 +0200

Air pollution emitted from sources such as traffic, industry and households is still above internationally agreed limits in many European countries, according to data published today. The accompanying report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) confirms an initial assessment published earlier this year, showing 12 EU Member States exceeded limits under the National Emissions Ceilings (NEC) Directive in 2010.

New cars sold in 2011 were 3.3 % more fuel efficient than those sold in 2010

Arthur Girling — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 11:45:00 +0200

Europeans are buying cars that are more efficient. Average carbon dioxide emissions per kilometre continue to fall in Europe, according to preliminary figures released today. The 2011 data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) also show that car manufacturers are mostly on track to meeting European Union (EU) targets.

World remains on unsustainable path – UNEP report on eve of Rio+20 Summit

Arthur Girling — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:30:00 +0200

The world continues to speed down an unsustainable path despite over 500 internationally agreed goals and objectives to support the sustainable management of the environment and improve human wellbeing, according to a new and wide-ranging assessment coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

What money can't buy - UN discusses happiness as a measure of progress

Arthur Girling — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:00:00 +0200

The world needs to move away from measuring success in purely economic terms, and should instead consider other criteria, including distribution of resources, sustainability, health, human rights and education. These were the discussions in a landmark meeting of the United Nations (UN), calling for new measurements of wellbeing beyond GDP in the run up to the Rio sustainability summit in June.

Major new website to assist with climate change adaptation in Europe

Arthur Girling — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Climate change is already evident in Europe. Across the continent, policy makers are starting to respond to current and future impacts and risks associated with rising temperatures, changing precipitation, melting glaciers, ice and snow, rising sea levels, and more frequent and intense floods and droughts.

Europe needs to use water more efficiently

Arthur Girling — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0100

Europe needs to redouble efforts in using water more efficiently to avoid undermining its economy, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). Inefficient water use impacts hard on the resources needed by ecosystems and people, both vital assets for European productivity and security.

Environmental tax reform: increasing individual incomes and boosting innovation

Arthur Girling — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0100

European governments could simultaneously reduce income tax, increase innovation and cut pollution by introducing well-targeted environmental taxes and recycling the revenues back into the economy. This was one of the findings from a pair of reports on environmental tax reform (ETR) published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA).