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Consumption and the environment - key fact 1: Private consumption expenditure grew by 35 % in the EU-27 Member States between 1990 and 2007 with the greatest growth in the EU-12 Member States (75 %).

Marine and coastal environment - key fact 5: The current reduction of 0.1 in pH that has occurred over the industrial era translates to a 30 % increase in ocean acidity. This change has occurred at a rate that is about a hundred times faster than any change in acidity experienced during the past 55 million of years. A further decline of 0.3-0.4 pH units, projected for surface waters during the 21st century, represents a 100-150 % increase in acidity.

Marine and coastal environment - key fact 4: The sea surface temperature changes in the European regional seas have been up to six times greater than in the global oceans in the past 25 years.

Marine and coastal environment - key fact 3: Where marine species and habitat types have been assessed, the majority are found to be in unfavourable or unknown condition; only 10 % of habitats and 2 % of species are found in good condition.

Marine and coastal environment - key fact 2: The consumption of fish in Europe has been increasing over the last 15 years while fish catches from European waters have decreased.

Marine and coastal environment - key fact 1: 30 % of Europe’s fish stocks (for which information exists) are fished outside safe biological levels.

Marine and coastal environment — key message 7: Growth of the maritime, agriculture and tourism sectors is expected to continue. An important future objective for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive will be to ensure that this growth is sustainable to achieve and then maintain ‘Good Environmental Status’ of the marine environment. Moreover, it will be necessary to implement planning principles in line with the approaches of Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Maritime Spatial Planning.

Marine and coastal environment — key message 1: Degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems is observed in the Black, Mediterranean, Baltic, North East Atlantic Seas and in the Arctic. This trend is caused by fishing, agriculture, the industrial use of chemicals, tourist development, shipping, energy exploitation and other maritime activities. Projected climate change is likely to increase the impact of these activities in all seas, and in the Arctic

Marine and coastal environment — key message 5: Designation of coastal and marine sites as part of Natura 2000, although improving, has been slow and difficult. The conservation status of some coastal and most marine habitats still needs to be assessed, while 22 % of marine mammals are threatened with extinction. The available data suggest that the objective of halting biodiversity loss by 2010 has not been met.

Marine and coastal environment — key message 2: Nutrient enrichment is a major problem in the coastal and marine environment, where it accelerates the growth of phytoplankton and can lead to oxygen depletion. Concentrations of some heavy metals and persistent organic contaminants in marine biota exceed food stuff limits in all Europe’s seas.

Marine and coastal environment — key message 6: Sustainable use of the seas and the conservation of marine ecosystems through an ecosystem-based approach are being pursued through the Integrated Maritime Policy and its environmental pillar, the 2008 Marine Strategy Framework Directive, under which ‘good environmental status’ in European Seas is to be achieved in 2020. In addition, a reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy has been proposed to achieve sustainable management of European and global fisheries.

Marine and coastal environment — key message 4: Sea surface temperatures and sea level are rising and likely to rise further. The resulting shifts in the geographical and seasonal distribution of marine and coastal species will require adaptations in the management of fisheries and natural habitats to ensure environmental sustainability. Increasing temperatures and the acidification of the world’s oceans due to higher CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere also affect coral reefs in Europe´s overseas territories, which are important centres of biodiversity.

Marine and coastal environment — key message 3: Unsustainable fishing occurs in all European Seas and is threatening the viability of European fish stocks. 21 to 60% of the commercial fish stocks in the North-East Atlantic, the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean are considered to be outside safe biological limits.

Soil — key message 6: Few countries have specific legislation to protect soil and there is no EU law or regulatory instrument that specifically addresses threats to it or requires the systematic collection of comparable data. The European Commission has published a strategy on soil protection, including legislative proposals, and further measures to support soil conservation within EU environmental and/or sectoral policies seem appropriate.

Soil — key message 5: Industrialisation and poor management have left thousands of contaminated sites throughout Europe, resulting in human health impacts and environmental problems including groundwater contamination. While some countries have made significant progress, the identification and remediation of contaminated sites in many countries is patchy, with limited progress over the past five years.

Soil — key message 4: Soil is being lost due to intensive soil sealing – about 4% of Europe’s total land area is sealed and the demand for urbanisation and transport infrastructure is rising. In addition, it is estimated that around 18% of agricultural soils are affected by compaction.

Soil — key message 3: Soil erosion by wind and water, largely the result of unsuitable land management, deforestation, overgrazing, construction activities and forest fires, affects around 17% of Europe’s land area. Erosion rates and extents are expected to continue to reflect changing patterns of land use and climate change.

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